One of the crown jewels at Sierra College is the Sierra College Foundation, helmed by the talented and always-hard working Sonbol Aliabadi, the Executive Director.

The foundation has just announced its drive to raise $250,000 to fund a seamless rollout of Wi-Fi internet access across Sierra College campuses. This technology has a huge impact on the kind of learning environment we can foster on campus, and I’m very excited to see this take place!

Here’s the press release…

Sierra College: Upgrading Technology for Today’s Wireless World

ROCKLIN, CA – July Eighth marked the official start of the Sierra College Foundation’s WiFi Project Campaign to raise $250,000 to provide wireless Internet access to Sierra College students district wide. At Tuesday night’s campaign kick-off, the Foundation proudly announced that during the silent phase of this campaign, they were able to raise approximately $100,000. The event was attended by community supporters, members of the project’s Honorary Committee, Sierra College Foundation Board of Directors, and Sierra College staff and students.

Honorable Jim Gray, Mayor of Roseville and Honorary Chair of the WiFi Campaign, in his remarks, talked about the importance of Sierra College to him personally, his family, and the entire region. Dr. Rachel Rosenthal addressed the importance of wireless capability for today’s digital-learner students. Sandra Gallo, the 2007-2008 President of the Associated Students of Sierra College, stated that “Sierra College students, professors, and staff identified wireless Internet access as the No. 1 priority to enhance education and the overall college experience.”

Holly Tiche (Placer Ranch President) and Tami Bogert-Yuill (Attorney/Gubernatorial Appointee), Co-Chairs of the WiFi Campaign, remarked that wireless technology on all Sierra College campuses will enhance learning, enable access to information, and improve safety to the nearly 40,000 students and community members who attend one of the four campuses (Nevada County, Rocklin, Roseville Gateway, and Tahoe/Truckee).

The project’s Honorary Committee is comprised of Jim Gray (Chair), Mayor of Roseville; Ed Bonner, Placer County Sheriff; David Ferrari, Sierra College Trustee; Carol Garcia, City of Roseville Councilmember; Jim Holmes, Placer County Supervisor; Mark Johnson, Mayor of Grass Valley; Gil Mathew, Nevada County Economic Resource Council President/CEO; David McKay, City of Nevada City Councilmember; Dan Miller, City of Grass Valley Councilmember; Bart O’Brien, Placer Union High School District Superintendent; Rocky Rockholm, Placer County Supervisor; Primo Santini, Mayor of Lincoln; John Spencer, Nevada County Supervisor; Brett Storey, Mayor of Rocklin; and Kirk Uhler, Placer County Supervisor.

This is a short-term campaign promising to yield impressive results. The campaign is expected to wrap up in late August in order for students to begin utilizing the technology in Spring 2009.

Visit www.sierracollege.edu/wifi to learn more about the WiFi Project Campaign. Contact the Sierra College Foundation at: (916) 789-2920 or foundation@sierracollege.edu if you would like to offer your support.