Nevada State College celebrates five years in Henderson

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Nevada State College is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, and with it, the school's first building is opening for instruction in August. The structure will include classrooms, a science lab and a computer lab.

"That is symbolic," said Dr. Fred Maryanski, president of Nevada State College. "It represents the state's commitment to the school."

Now that the first building is on schedule for completion, Maryanski said he hopes that the state funds Nevada State's second structure so that the school continues to develop.

"Now our students can be reassured we are a regular part of the state's system," Maryanski said. "That uncertainty is completely gone."

In addition to construction, Maryanski plans to create a school of business in the near future. The school also opened a cadaveric lab in February for its health science students.

"We're not offering the traditional college experience, but we are an institute that focuses on instruction," Maryanski said.

Nevada State College started with 177 students five years ago and now has almost 2,200 people attending.

"Clearly, we've grown," said Erika Beck, dean of liberal arts and sciences.

Beck said the school has expanded its programs, in addition to attracting more traditional age college students and retaining its nontraditional students.

"It really is the dream coming to life," Beck said.

Nevada State's student organizations have expanded significantly, Beck said. For example, the students now publish and run a newspaper, the Scorpion's Tale, in addition to hosting a number of other subject-specific organizations.

"They're becoming a much more cohesive group," Beck said.

In terms of faculty, five initially were hired college-wide, and that number has grown to about 60 now at Nevada State, 1125 Nevada State Drive.

"It's actually kind of surprising how much we've grown," said Connie Carpenter, dean of the school of nursing.