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Thursday, July 02, 2009 2:14 PM Heavy equipment program steers toward safer ground Students, state legislator trying to save funding for WCC By Stephanie Creech | Times Senior Writer Although a final state budget hasn't been approved, Sen. A.B. Swindell, D-Nash, thinks that right now funding for the heavy equipment operator program at Wilson Community College can be restored and the program saved. Swindell said Thursday that obviously anything could happen. But he will continue to watch out for the program, which is the only one of is kind in North Carolina and attracts students from across the state. "Right now, I feel very good about it," Swindell said. Swindell said he made the appropriations committee co-chairs aware of the heavy equipment program and has asked them to take another look at funding for it. "There is nothing that needs to be done further," Swindell said. "I appreciate the people who came to see me. I know the importance of this program. I will do all I can to keep this program as well as other things moving forward." Ironically, Swindell is a graduate of the heavy equipment program. He took the course after returning from a brief stint in the U.S. Army because his father wanted him to learn a skill. Last week, 12 to 14 students in the heavy equipment operator program spent two days in Raleigh lobbying legislators to save the program. The students tried to explain the importance of the program particularly to displaced workers looking for a career change. Last month, college officials confirmed the school is in danger of losing the program due to the state budget crunch. Wilson Community College is the only community college in the state to offer the program. It draws students from across the state and the East Coast. The college has already decided to eliminate the program's Saturday class option starting with the fall semester. The Saturday class was often used by cities around the state as a means of getting their employees certified for insurance purposes to use different equipment and to help their employees move through the ranks of equipment operators. Money saved by eliminating the Saturday class will be used to help keep the college's full-time curriculum courses operating. The state pays for the equipment, mechanics, equipment repairs and fuel for the program. But the state has been cutting funding for the program over the past several years. College officials are still awaiting official notice about the program's future. "At this point we are hearing rumors that it could be put back in," said Denise Moore, the college's public relations officer. "However, we will not have official notification one way or the other until the budget is actually passed." Curtis Avery Jr. of Wilson was among the students who went to Raleigh and met with Swindell and other legislators. Their lobbying efforts also included holding signs outside of the legislative building. Avery enrolled in the heavy equipment operator program in April 2007. "It was so intimidating," Avery said. "We just came right out and told them we are totally green and we don't know what we're doing but our hearts are in the right place. If you believe in something you have to after it wholeheartedly and you may have to tread in areas where you haven't been before." Avery said some people didn't know the heavy equipment operator program existed. So he said part of their work last week was educating state leaders about the program and its importance. "They (legislators) said they would do the best they could to save it," Avery said. The news has improved morale among the students and faculty. "Morale was at an all-time low," Avery said. "This has put the wind back in everyone's sails." creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822 |
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Jennie said...
Good job Heavy Equipment students, and good luck to all of you!!!
Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Good job Heavy Equipment students, and good luck to all of you!!!
Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 3:45 PM
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