(OLNEY) Olney Central College and the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB), along with local and state officials will celebrate the completion of the new Health Professions Center at OCC with an Open House and Dedication Ceremony this coming Thursday, December 11th. With the formal dedication ceremony scheduled for 4:00, the public is invited to explore the 8,500-square-foot addition to Dr. Kent L. Wattleworth Hall from 3:00 to 7:00. Funded through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program, the $3.5 million facility will benefit healthcare education and workforce readiness. The Health Professions Center includes two new classrooms, a six-bed nursing skills lab, two nursing simulation labs with an observation area, and a new radiography classroom and lab. The new facility also offers a conference room, faculty offices, and a student commons area to support collaborative learning. In addition to state funding, OCC received more than $400,000 in financial support from the community to complete the project. This includes the Olney Central College Foundation’s pledge of more than $150,000 over the next five years along with contributions from the Johnsie Flock Fildes Foundation, from Wabash General Hospital, the Richland County Board, and the City of Olney. OCC also received a generous gift given in memory of Phyllis Fehrenbacher by her family, plus Carle Richland Memorial Hospital is supporting the project through the donation of medical equipment for student use in the facility.
