50 Years in the Making: Central Wyoming College Invites Community to Celebrate Grand Opening of Jackson Campus Nov. 5
50 Years in the Making: Central Wyoming College Invites Community to Celebrate Grand Opening of Jackson Campus Nov. 5
JACKSON, Wyo. — After 50 years of serving Teton County, Central Wyoming College is opening the doors to its first permanent campus in Jackson, and the entire community is invited to celebrate this historic milestone on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at 2020 W. High School Road. The grand opening is a celebration of the students, faculty, staff, donors, community leaders, businesses and partners whose vision, generosity and dedication helped turn nearly five decades of commitment to education into a permanent home.
The celebration will begin with welcoming remarks at 2 p.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m. An open house and campus tours will continue until 5:30 p.m., offering visitors an opportunity to explore the new facility, meet faculty and staff, learn about academic and workforce programs, and see firsthand the opportunities the campus will bring to Jackson and the greater Teton region.
For five decades, CWC-Jackson has provided education and workforce training in Jackson through leased classrooms, offices, laboratories and commercial kitchens. The opening of the new 20,300 square-foot campus marks a defining moment in the college’s history and a significant investment in the educational and economic future of the region.
“This is an extraordinary moment for Central Wyoming College and the Jackson community,” said CWC President Brad Tyndall. “For 50 years, we have worked alongside this community to provide access to higher education, workforce training and opportunity. This beautiful new campus represents the determination, generosity and shared vision of so many people who believed in what we could accomplish together. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this possible, and we invite the entire community to come celebrate this remarkable achievement.”
Construction on the $24 million campus began in March 2025. Situated on a 2-acre site next to the Jackson Hole High School, the facility brings together academic classrooms, specialized laboratories, workforce training spaces and student services under one roof for the first time in CWC-Jackson’s history.
The new campus includes a commercial teaching kitchen for culinary and hospitality education; nursing simulation and clinical skills laboratories; physiology, biology and chemistry laboratories; health care classrooms; a computer lab; flexible career and technical education space; and classrooms designed to accommodate a variety of programs. Student study areas, gathering spaces and faculty offices will provide a welcoming environment for students of all ages.
The facility was designed to double the capacity of CWC’s nursing program and triple its culinary program capacity, while creating opportunities to expand health care education, skilled trades, workforce training and lifelong learning.
“This campus is about so much more than a building,” said Amy Madera, Dean of CWC-Jackson. “It is about the students who will discover new possibilities here, the working adults who will gain skills to advance their careers, and the employers who will benefit from a stronger local workforce. We have been part of this community for 50 years, and now we have a permanent home where we can grow to meet the needs of our community. We cannot wait to welcome everyone inside.”
CWC-Jackson serves a diverse student population, including traditional college students, working adults, career changers and high school students earning college credit. During the 2025-26 academic year, the college served 249 nonconcurrent students and 420 concurrent enrollment students, with 38 students graduating. Approximately 95% of CWC-Jackson students come from Jackson and the greater Jackson region, and the average student age is 28.
A Community Achievement, A Shared Future
The grand opening also provides an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary generosity and partnerships that have brought the campus to this point. From community advocates and philanthropic supporters to local employers, government partners, college leadership, faculty and staff, the new campus reflects years of collaboration and a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunities in Jackson.
“This is truly a moment to celebrate and thank the extraordinary philanthropists, donors, taxpayers, and community partners who believed in this vision and helped make it a reality,” said Beth Monteiro, Executive Director of the CWC Foundation. “Their generosity and support have been instrumental in bringing us to this historic milestone. We are deeply grateful to every individual, family and organization that stepped forward to invest in the future of education in Jackson. This campus is a testament to what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose.”
The CWC Foundation continues to advance the Jackson Campus Campaign, Education Elevated in the Heart of Our Community, which supports the people, programs and resources needed to bring the campus to life. Campaign priorities include new academic and workforce programs, health care and hospitality/culinary education, student scholarships and internships, equipment, and faculty and staff recruitment and retention.
The new campus will also serve as a resource for the broader community, offering opportunities for professional development, language education, community enrichment and partnerships with businesses and organizations throughout the region.
“This is a celebration that belongs to the entire community,” says Madera. “Whether you have taken a class with us, supported a student, partnered with our faculty, contributed to the campus or simply believe in the importance of education, you are part of our story. We hope everyone will join us on Thursday, Nov. 5 to celebrate what we have accomplished together and imagine what comes next.”
Grand Opening Celebration | Thursday, Nov. 5
Location: CWC-Jackson, 2020 W. High School Road, Jackson, WY 83001.
The event is free and open to everyone. Light refreshments will be served, and no RSVP is required. Parking is limited, so attendees are encouraged to take the START Bus, walk or bike to the celebration.
For more information, visit the CWC-Jackson Grand Opening event page or cwc.edu/jackson.
50 years in the making. A permanent home. A new chapter. Come celebrate with CWC-Jackson!