Dan Kucera checks out the mobile kitchen
JAMESTOWN, ND (UJ) – On January 24, 2025, in an act of remarkable generosity, Wyoming’s Northwest College sent the University of Jamestown their mobile kitchen equipment in response to the January 19th kitchen fire on campus.
The president of Northwest College, Lisa Watson took it upon herself to reach out to the university with an incredible solution. Mobile kitchen equipment previously used by her college was no longer needed. She offered it to the University of Jamestown. “When I heard about the fire, I felt called to help,” said Watson, originally from Beach, N.D.
Staff from Northwest College drove more than 1,200 miles, from Powell, Wyoming, to Jamestown, North Dakota, and back to deliver the first installation of equipment. A second installation was delivered on Monday, January 26.
Dustin Jensen, vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Jamestown, said he felt inspired by Northwest College’s selflessness. “It’s just amazing that they would drive thousands of miles to Jamestown, stay on campus for five minutes to unhook, and head back. It’s inspiring to see people dive in and do what they can to help,” he said. “There have been so many people doing so many good things.”
Following the university’s fire on January 19, UJ staff and faculty have been working tirelessly, in conjunction with their food service provider Sodexo, to ensure students are fed.
Dan Kucera, University of Jamestown Sodexo general manager, expressed his gratitude, saying the new mobile kitchen equipment will help his staff provide students with a more robust dining experience: “This is the biggest smile I’ve had on my face for the week. This is going to make our staff happy, which will make the students happy. That’s the goal after all.”
