Bob and Carollyne Collier tour the future Ag Tech Learning Hub at Olds College. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Bob and Carollyne Collier

Olds College receives $2 million gift in support of enhancing student learning

Mar 29, 2022 | 4:31 PM

Olds College has announced it has received a $2-million gift from Bob and Carollyne Collier, in support of enhancing the learning experiences of students within the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology (WSAT).

College officials say the funds will go towards the development and delivery of enhanced academic programming and provide students with opportunities to attend conferences, forums, educational courses, guest lecturers and speakers. Additionally, the funds are expected to help support smart ag applied research and the development of the Olds College Smart Farm as a cutting-edge learning, demonstration and applied research environment for students, producers and the agriculture sector in Alberta and throughout the globe.

In recognition of their gift, College officials say the heart of the new Ag Tech Learning Hub will be named the Bob & Carollyne Collier Student Commons and will be a central gathering space for students, faculty and guests of Olds College. The Student Commons will act as an informal learning space for students to study, meet, relax, or socialize and will feature a design focused on technology essentials, helping students thrive in a modern educational environment. The Ag Tech Learning Hub is said to be on track to open in September 2022.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of Bob and Carollyne Collier,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College. “On behalf of Olds College I would like to sincerely thank Bob and Carollyne for their continued support of our students and the agriculture industry.”

In 2017, inspired by the creativity and initiative of a student entrepreneur they met while touring the campus, Bob and Carollyne established the Bob Collier Award with a generous pledge of $300,000 over ten years in support of innovation and entrepreneurship at Olds College. Additional annual pledges from the couple have gone towards constructing The Hive, a student lounge in the lower level of the Learning Resource Centre in 2019.

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“We continue to be so inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit shown by the students who receive our annual award each year,” comments Carollyne Collier. “We hope that the students look up at the beautiful ceiling in the Student Commons and feel inspired to take on any challenge that comes their way.”