The newest workforce training mobile lab for high school welding students in Columbus County comes in the form of ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’ A ribbon cutting ceremony was held July 31 on campus to celebrate the an old trailer’s restoration and Southeastern Community College’s latest contribution to education.
“We’ve been really excited to partner with Columbus County Schools,” said executive vice president Dr. Sylvia Cox. “It’s been amazing this journey we’ve been on since Dr. English has been here to reimagine everything and take workforce education on the road.”
College president Dr. Chris English found an old trailer nestled in the corner of the campus that had seen better days and decided it could be repaired and utilized to teach high school students in Columbus to weld. Welding instructor Paul Starnes and his students repaired the floors, the exterior, and loaded the mobile unit with the materials needed to teach welding classes. Gore Trailers made small repairs to the brakes, lights, and roof.
“It’s probably 90-plus percent student done,” Starnes said. “This is a product of the students here at Southeastern Community College. Thanks to Dr. English and Angie Ransom for finding the time, finding the money, and allowing us to do this.”
“With the support of our county commissioners, we’re going to be able to go to each of our high schools,” Cox said. “We know from research that when students get a chance to dip their toes into a college course and get that college feel before they graduate high school, they are way more likely to persist and actually come to the college.”
County commissioners budgeted $100,000 to build power stations at East, West, South Columbus High schools and Whiteville High School to provide power for the mobile unit and use the school’s electricity to power the trailer. Starnes and English decided this option would be better instead of loading expensive generators into the lab.
“Had we not had that, we would not be looking at this trailer today,” English said. “This has created a workforce pipeline right before your very eyes.”
Brent Gore, of the SCC Foundation and business owner of Gore’s Trailers, said the students did and excellent job with the restoration.
“From the county schools’ standpoint, we are very pleased with the partnership we’ve been working on with Southeastern Community College for three years now,” said Tom McLam, Career and Technical Education Department director. “We now have approximately 25 courses in our high schools that we’ve worked with the Southeastern staff to articulate agreements with. That means that our kids can go straight from high school to college, get college credit and earn credentials to go straight into the workforce.”
The welding lab courses will be available in the fall at starting at South Columbus High School.
