Hornady Manufacturing Presents Significant Donation to CCC

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – The Central Community College Foundation is pleased to announce a $750,000 donation from Hornady Manufacturing.

The gift establishes the Hornady Criminal Justice Fund at CCC and was given as a special project to celebrate the company’s 75th year in business. The fund will support criminal justice program scholarships and grants that enhance the student experience.

“Donating to the Central Community College Foundation and creating the Hornady Criminal Justice Fund demonstrates our commitment to the college and the community,” said Steve Hornady, company president. “It shows the pride we have in Central Community College and reflects our desire to support CCC and its programs.”

Additionally, the crime house at CCC-Grand Island will be known as the Hornady Crime House. An official naming ceremony and sign unveiling will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at the facility. Tours of the crime house will be available starting at 4 p.m. The celebration will continue with a Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at the Riverside Golf Club at 5 p.m.

"This collaboration combines values with investment,” said Traci Skalberg, CCC Foundation executive director. “Hornady Manufacturing has long been an economic powerhouse in Grand Island, supporting our community and workforce. Their commitment to law enforcement is commendable, and investing in local law enforcement education is a meaningful way to show support. Central Community College is proud to be a part of this effort and we're grateful to Hornady Manufacturing for joining forces with us."

Opened in 2023, the crime house provides real-life scenarios in crime scene investigations and other law enforcement practices in a simulated environment. While the crime house is primarily used by CCC’s criminal justice students, area law enforcement agencies, schools and other community groups also utilize it. The law enforcement agencies include police departments from Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings and Columbus, as well the Hall County Sheriff’s office and the Nebraska State Patrol. More than a dozen schools have toured the crime house with Grand Island Senior High School, Northwest High School, Lexington High School and Giltner High School students completing workshops. Last year, boy scout troops from throughout the region earned merit badges at the crime house as part of Merit Badge University.

“The experiential learning that the Hornady Crime House offers to CCC’s criminal justice students is a great supplement to the teaching provided in the classroom,” said Michael David, criminal justice program director. “This type of hands-on experience is as real as it gets and shows the students some of what they will face once they get into law enforcement, a dream career for some. Hornady’s generous donation gives both the crime house and the CCC’s criminal justice program a huge boost.”

“This generous gift exemplifies Hornady’s commitment to the community and will have a substantial impact on our students and law enforcement agencies for years to come,” said CCC-Grand Island President Dr. Marcie Kemnitz.