West Virginia Executive Fall 2019 | Page 77

This annual event brings in proceeds to support student scholar­ships through the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation. With the funds raised from this year’s event, 12 more student veterans will each receive $1,000 to pay help pay for tuition and fees. According to Darren Shearlock, the university’s veterans advocate, the opportunities available to student veterans at WVU Parkersburg are invaluable in helping them move forward professionally. “Right now across America, we’re in a changing economy,” says Shearlock. “Jobs your parents used to have won’t be able to provide a lot of young people the careers they’re looking for to reach that middle-class lifestyle. In order to change with the economy, they need new skills, and at WVU Parkersburg, we’re able to help them achieve those skills and get degrees and certificates that will make them competitive in a 21st century environment at one of the lowest rates in the state.” RCBI and Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy Partner to Offer Advanced Manufacturing Training The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy Job ChalleNGe students are learning in-demand in- dustry skills thanks to a new partnership with the Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) at Marshall University. The Mountaineer Job ChalleNGe Program is a new 22-week course that provides advanced manufacturing skills training that leads to national certifications and job placement. The program is open to graduates of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy who are 17-20 years of age and interested in entering the West Virginia manufacturing workforce. Classes are currently offered at the RCBI Bridgeport Ad- vanced Manufacturing Technology Center and will eventually be offered at a new training center under development at the new Job ChalleNGe training site located at Camp Dawson in Kingwood. RCBI will continue to deliver the instruction. Participants in the manufacturing technology program learn how to set up, program and operate computer numerical control (CNC) machines widely used in advanced manufacturing. Students also learn blueprint reading, precision measure­ ment and computer-aided design. Students who complete the program will be prepared for entry-level careers in manufacturing. They will also be eligible to enroll in RCBI’s two-year machinist technology/CNC program offered at four locations across the state, which can lead to a two-year associate degree and national certifications. Land Surveying Students to Benefit from Equipment Donation Several Glenville State College land surveying students now have more tools of the trade at their disposal thanks to a recent donation. Representatives from Precision Laser & Instrument, Inc. in Cross Lanes, WV, were on hand recently to present second-year students majoring in land surveying with equipment vests. The students also received an equipment pack that included a mea- suring tape, plumb bob and sheath, compass and gammon reel. The equipment packs were purchased and donated to the stu- dents through the efforts of former land surveying professor Charles Sypolt, as well as donations from Senator Dave Sypolt, CONGRATULATIONS, SARAH! SLS Land & Energy Development President Sarah Smith epitomizes our culture and core values, and we would like to congratulate her on being inducted into WV Executive’s Young Guns Class of 2020! Brand Communications Strategy 877.342.0161 • charlesryan.com WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM FALL 2019 75