CAST graduates first class

"We held our breaths -- not just for seconds, minutes or even days -- but rather for weeks-nine to be exact," said Vicky Leibbrandt, the Employment Services Coordinator at Workforce Development Career Center in McCook. Nine weeks ago, a group of eight offenders from McCook's Work Ethic Camp began learning how to weld at MCC's new Center for Applied Science and Technology -- CAST -- located in east of downtown McCook. On Friday afternoon, six of the original eight who started the program received certificate of completion awards during a special graduation ceremony.

Dr. Michael Chipps, President of Mid-Plains Community College, led the ceremonies and thanked each of the five partners for their involvement and support.

"From the outset, we knew bringing welding training to McCook Community College was a great idea and we owe a great deal of thanks to the college's visionary Board of Governors for seeing the potential and funding the CAST project. We were very pleased that our partnership with Nebraska Workforce Development, Work Ethic Camp, Phoenix Industries, Valmont Industries, and McCook Public Schools has yielded success with our first group of Work Ethic Camp graduates," he said.

Captain Pam Morello, Vice Warden, and Stacey Burkert, Program Manager at the Work Ethic Camp, Randall Chambers and Dan Burns from Valmont Industries, along with Ms. Leibbrandt, shared their congratulations and best wishes.

"Thank you for your help in making this possible," said Ms. Leibbrandt when she addressed the group of learners. "There were a whole lot of people and organizations who stuck their necks out on this venture, but you were the ones who stuck it out and made it successful."

The Center for Applied Science and Technology was recently completed under the supervision of Dr. Richard Tubbs, Vice President and CEO of MCC. In his comments to the group, Dr. Tubbs stated, "When we were asked if we could make such an accelerated welding program available for selected offenders of the Work Ethic Camp, we knew we could make it happen. In less than six months we had a building, equipment and were operational."

The new center will also be used for training McCook High School students, as well as those wishing to receive a college diploma and Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Welding and Machine Shop training.

Mike Harris, the college/high school welding program instructor may have summarized it best by saying, "This is new territory for an old trade (welding). It all came together and we all did it together. I thank you and good luck to all of you."

The next class of learners from the Work Ethic Camp is scheduled to begin May 11. For more information, please contact the Public Information Office.