From Cape Cod Community Hospital:
West Barnstable, MA: Mrs. Maureen Wilkens, a visionary and generous benefactor of Cape Cod Community College, is contributing $5 million toward the construction of the College’s new Science and Engineering Building. This is the largest single donation by an individual in the College’s history.
“The College is so important to our community. It provides outstanding higher education opportunities for our neighbors on the Cape and Islands and beyond,” said Mrs. Wilkens. “A new science building has been needed for a very long time. I’m pleased that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is funding $25 million of the project but there is still money to raise to complete the project. I want to make sure, with this new building, CCCC will be able to provide the state-of-the-art Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) education required in the 21st Century.”
In July 2018, with tremendous support from the local State Delegation, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bond bill guaranteeing $25 million to the College for a new Science Building. The total project cost is approximately $38 million. The College is putting $3 million into the project. Cape Cod Community College Educational Foundation, Inc., is leading a $10 million capital campaign to raise the additional funds required for the new science building.
“Maureen Wilkens’ immense generosity to our College is truly remarkable,” said John L. Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College. “Her understanding of the importance of CCCC developed many years ago when she and her husband Frank first moved to the Cape. One of the initial gifts to the College came after Mrs. Wilkens met a young woman, a single parent, who was trying to afford higher education. The Wilkens established an endowed scholarship to annually fund the education of single parents. Since then, she has generously supported innumerable projects, most recently, the renovation of the College’s Nursing Lab. With this leadership gift, she is making an enduring impact on generations of students.”
The new Science and Engineering building is expected to be completed by 2022 and will create new, modern learning spaces that will allow faculty to better teach subjects related to STEM, which has a growing labor market on Cape. Massachusetts is currently fourth in the nation in highest percentage of employment within STEM jobs.
“With Mrs. Wilkens’ transformative gift of $5 million, she is signaling how consequential this project is for the College and the broader Cape Cod region. Thanks to her leadership, the Foundation’s fundraising effort is at the halfway point in achieving this significant campaign goal,” said Kathy McNamara, Chief Executive Officer of the CCCC Educational Foundation.
“It is my hope and expectation that many generous individuals and businesses will step forward to join me in supporting the College as it builds this innovative science building,” said Mrs. Wilkens. “The College is a hidden gem and offers local students an excellent and affordable education. Faculty will be able to provide the best possible science education, supported by a modern, state-of-the-art facility. The faculty and students deserve this, and our local economy will benefit from it with a well-educated workforce.”