Gillette College Area 59

Our xTool F2 Ultra UV laser can do something pretty incredible: engrave INSIDE glass.
This one didn’t go quite according to plan. We had the settings a little too high, and the energy caused cracking inside the glass.

But that’s part of what we do at Area 59.

We test. We experiment. We make mistakes. We adjust. And then we try again.

Because sometimes the most useful thing you make isn’t the finished project. It’s the knowledge you gain along the way.

Making is learning.

Like most things around here, printing decals is a process! After the vinyl is printed and cut, every tiny piece that is not part of the final design has to be carefully removed by hand. This step, called weeding, takes patience, a steady hand, and plenty of attention to detail.

These custom decals are one step closer to being ready for their final destination!

Turn your graduation into a career opportunity!

Gillette College is looking for 2026 graduates who are 18+, live in Campbell County, and are interested in obtaining a CDL.
Whether you recently graduated from Campbell County, Thunder Basin, Westwood, Wright Junior-Senior High, or completed your education through homeschooling, this opportunity could be for you!

If the cost of training is holding you back, funding assistance may be available for qualified applicants.

Take the first step toward a high-demand career today!

Contact Jeff Wasserburger
📞 307-680-2943
✉️ [email protected]

Jan has never been one to seek the spotlight, but we could not let him retire without taking time to celebrate all he has meant to Area 59.

Please stop by Area 59 on Thursday, August 13, at 4:00 p.m. to help us send Jan off into retirement. Share a favorite story, thank him for his help, or simply wish him well as he begins this next chapter.

We know Jan would probably prefer to slip quietly out the door, but after everything he has done for Area 59 and the people who have passed through its doors, we want him to know just how much he will be missed.

We hope you will join us in celebrating Jan and giving him the send-off he deserves.

There’s something satisfying about taking an idea from a computer screen to a finished piece of steel.

This project started as a digital design, then moved to the CNC plasma table where it was precision cut from steel. After cleanup and polishing, the finished piece was ready to display.

Projects like this showcase the complete creative process—from design and digital fabrication to the finishing touches that bring a project to life. It’s one of the many ways technology and craftsmanship come together at Area 59.

What would you design if you had access to a plasma table?

After years of dedication, creativity, problem-solving, and service, Jan Folland is retiring from Area 59. His last day with us will be August 19. (Open House for Jan will be August 13.)

It is difficult to put into words just how instrumental Jan has been in Area 59’s growth and day-to-day operation. He has helped build far more than projects. He has helped build the systems, knowledge, confidence, and welcoming culture that allow our makerspace to thrive.

Jan has been the person who could troubleshoot a machine, guide someone through a complicated project, teach a new skill, solve an unexpected problem, or quietly step in wherever he was needed. His knowledge and experience have been invaluable, but so has his willingness to share them with others. Countless members, students, veterans, community partners, and coworkers have benefited from his patience, humor, and steady support.

Area 59 would not be what it is today without Jan. His fingerprints are everywhere, from the equipment he helped keep running to the projects he helped bring to life and the people he encouraged along the way.

While we are excited for him to enjoy this next chapter, we will miss seeing him in the shop, hearing his stories, and knowing we could always turn to him when something needed to be figured out.

Thank you, Jan, for everything you have given to Area 59 and to our community. Your impact will continue to be felt here for many years to come.

Please join us in wishing Jan a very happy and well-earned retirement!

One of our veterans is well on his way to creating this beautiful waving American flag out of metal! From cutting the design on the plasma table to working through the details with our team, this project is a wonderful example of creativity, craftsmanship, and collaboration in action.

We can’t wait to see the finished piece! 🇺🇸

What a week at the Campbell County Fair! 🎉

We’re incredibly proud to see so many Area 59 makers earning blue ribbons with projects they designed, built, welded, engraved, painted, and/or created right here in our makerspace!

From woodworking and welding to metal art, laser projects, patriotic décor, and creative mixed-media pieces, these projects showcase what happens when imagination meets the right tools and a lot of hard work.

Congratulations to every exhibitor who used Area 59 to bring their ideas to life. Whether you came home with a ribbon or simply finished a project you’re proud of, you’re a maker—and that’s something worth celebrating.

We can’t wait to see what you’ll create next year!

A great opportunity for anyone considering a career in the skilled trades!

The mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s Work Ethic Scholarship can support training in fields such as welding, machining, electrical technology, diesel technology, CDL and other high-demand careers.

Many of these programs are available right here at Gillette College—allowing students to train locally for careers our community needs.
Please share this with a student, recent graduate or adult who may be ready to build a new career!