In 1966, a substantial gift from Powell banker R.A. Nelson provided the catalyst to establish the Northwest College Foundation as a private financial base for Northwest College. R.A. presided over the organization for 33 years until passing the gavel to his son, Dick, in 1999. 

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R.A. and his wife, Elsie, were tremendous advocates for Northwest College and took special delight in musical performances on campus. The Nelson Performing Arts Building is named for R.A. Prior to his death in 2002, R.A. and Elsie made a plan to donate their home, situated just across from campus, for use by the college community. Renovated in 2010, and updated once more in 2022, the NWC Foundation's "Nelson House" now functions as a meeting/reception space and a guest house for special NWC visitors. See the gallery of images below to view the Nelson House. For questions about reserving this space for College functions, contact Foundation Technician Diedre Asay at 307-754-6096 or Diedre.Asay@nwc.edu.