East Central College   

Tag: Heating and Air Conditioning

Welding student Nina with welding helmet

Carhartt and Metallica Foundation Award ECC $50,000

May 17, 2024 | Campus News
Carhartt logo

The band Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation (AWMH) and Carhartt are awarding East Central College $50,000 through Carhartt’s “For the Love of Labor” grant.

The “For the Love of Labor” grant will support women seeking education in the skilled trades programs. Five community colleges nationwide will each receive $50,000 to bolster women in career and technical education programs and promote the Metallica Scholars Initiative.

“This award acknowledges the work ECC does to provide Manufacturing career opportunities for our area’s business and industry.” said Joel Doepker, ECC Vice President of External Relations. “There are great opportunities for well-compensated positions with benefits, and this award increases our ability to focus on women pursuing a career in Manufacturing.”

The grant is funded by a single day of online sales of Carhartt women’s apparel earlier this year.

AWMH is working with Carhartt to shine a light on and address the skilled trades gap and highlight the women entering these essential jobs. The organizations are pushing against the narrative that women are less capable of handling work in the trades.

ECC will spend a large majority of the award on scholarships for women registered in Welding, Heating and Air-Conditioning, Industrial Engineering Technology, and the Precision Machining programs in the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters. The scholarship will assist students with the cost of tuition, fees, books, toolkits and provide a student stipend.

A primary reason ECC was selected is due to the number of women receiving a scholarship through the Metallica Scholars program, which provides scholarships in ECC’s Advanced Manufacturing programs.

“We were impressed with the number of women enrolled in the programs they profiled,” said Renee Richardson, Director of Philanthropy at Metallica’s Foundation, All Within My Hands. “It’s important to provide opportunities for women in the advanced manufacturing programs, and we think ECC will use the funding well.”

The Carhartt “For the Love of Labor” scholarship application is available online at Carhartt “For the Love of Labor” scholarship page.

 

SkillUp Information Sessions for SNAP Recipients

December 1, 2023 | Campus News

East Central College will be hosting information sessions for SNAP (food stamp) recipients to learn more about the opportunity to receive an education for free.

The sessions will be held Dec. 12-14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Washington Job Center, 1108 Washington Square Center. Eligible SNAP recipients will be able to use the SkillUp program that provides free tuition and support services to complete a short-term (12 months or less) training program at no cost. The programs will provide individuals with a new career path and the opportunity to begin a career in a high demand industry.

ECC offers several SkillUp eligible programs, including Fast Track Welding, Heating and Air-Conditioning, Industrial Maintenance, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Certified Medication Technician (CMT) and Medical Assistant. The Welding, CNA and CMT programs can each be completed in 16 weeks or less.

No reservations are needed for the sessions. Those interested need to ask for Melissa Schall-Willmore at the Washington Job Center.

For more information about the SkillUp program, visit www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/skillup/ or call 636-584-6530.

Metallica Scholars logo

ECC Returns for Year Two of All Within My Hands’ Metallica Scholars Initiative

August 7, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College will continue in the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) and is receiving $50,000 in year two of its involvement in the program. The funding will be used for student scholarships in Welding, Heating and Air-Conditioning, Precision Machining and Manufacturing Maintenance.

Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. East Central College remains as the only community college in Missouri to be a part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI).

The MSI was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula.

“We are happy to continue to partner with Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation to support the vital career and technical education work of the nation’s community colleges,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO.  “Colleges across the country provide pathways to well-paying jobs through programs, services and training that lead to in-demand skills, certificates and degrees for students.

“These programs are responsive to the needs of local businesses and provide a pipeline of qualified workers to local industry. Partners like Metallica that continue to provide support for community colleges help us to showcase the importance of investing in the transformative power of community college education.”

MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this grant year, it will have helped over 6,000 students pursuing careers in the trades. To date, Metallica and AWMH have invested over $6 million in the American workforce.

“The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative assemblage of the nation’s best community colleges, creating a supportive climate for participants to communicate directly and share best practices. As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately, the impact is felt locally and nationally as Metallica Scholars enter the workforce and fill in-demand technical positions.” says Peter Delgrosso, AWMH Executive Director.

During the past academic year of 2022-2023, ECC awarded $97,000 in MSI scholarships to 48 advanced manufacturing students. The scholarships were used toward tuition, fees, books, transportation and needed tools in their programs.

“We had students who couldn’t continue their program if it wasn’t for the scholarships from the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” says Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations. “The investment by AWMH has a direct impact on the area’s manufacturers who desperately need a qualified workforce to maintain their workforce and remain competitive.”

Find our more at our Metallica Scholars Initiative page.

The 11 community colleges joining MSI this year include:

These newly added colleges are joining a roster of veteran schools invited to continue in the program. Each year, the returning colleges play an integral part in helping guide the success of the new schools.

The 31 returning schools include:

What began with 10 colleges and mostly manufacturing programs has developed into a diverse offering of workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers in fields and positions including:

Agriculture
Automation and Robotics
Automotive Technology
Aviation, Computer-Aided Drafting & Design
Carpentry
Computerized Manufacturing (CNC)
Construction Technology
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Cybersecurity
Diesel Technology
Dental Hygiene
Electrical Engineering
EMT
Fire Technology
Healthcare
Heating & Ventilation (HVAC)
Heavy Equipment Operator
Hospitality
Industrial Maintenance Technology
Lineworker
Manufacturing & Machining
Mechanical Design
Mechatronics Engineering
Process Technology
Trucking (CDL)
Welding
Wind Energy

About American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)

As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges leads, advocates, and advances the nation’s community colleges.  Uniquely American, community colleges deliver educational and economic opportunities for more than 10 million diverse students annually. Dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, DC, AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support to increase economic mobility for all.

About All Within My Hands (AWMH)

All Within My Hands was established in 2017 by Metallica to invest in the people and places that have supported the band. It also allows Metallica’s fans to engage in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Foundation is dedicated to creating sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. All expenses of the Foundation are covered by the band, the board, and a few special friends so that 100% of donations go to the organizations it supports. AWMH is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

 

 

Top 5 Tips to Help Lower Your Utility Bills this Winter from HVAC Dave

November 27, 2018 | Campus News

With winter right around the corner, it’s a good idea to make sure your house is prepared for the cold! East Central College HVAC expert and faculty member David DeArmond has some tips that could save you money on your utility bill.

Tip 1 – Get a Tune-Up

HVAC systems often become more inefficient over time, which is why performing regular maintenance on your system is so important! It can help save you money on a daily basis, and it can help prevent problems from happening when you least expect it. Do this every spring and winter. Many HVAC companies offer seasonal specials!

Tip 2- Plug the Leaks – Insulate Your Home

It’s always a good idea to check the weatherstripping around your doors and the caulking around your windows this time of year. Small leaks can lead to big utility bills, as your HVAC system is constantly having to fight the cold air coming into the house. You also want to check the insulation inside your attic. Insulating an attic is fairly easy and inexpensive, and it can make a big difference.

Common places air leaks occur:

  • Electrical outlets
  • Switch plates
  • Door and window frames
  • Electrical and gas service entrances
  • Baseboards
  • Weatherstripping around doors
  • Fireplaces
  • Attic hatches
  • Window air conditioners
  • Cable and phone lines
  • Dryer vents
  • Bathroom/kitchen vents and fans

Tip 3 – Get a Programmable Thermostat

Make your HVAC system work less when you aren’t at home!  New thermostats can also connect to your smartphone, allowing you to control the temperature from anywhere.

Tip 4 – Look to the Sky

Even in the winter, the sun can help warm your house. Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day. This will allow sunlight to natural heat your home. Close them at night to block the cold coming from the glass!

Tip 5 – Replace Your Air Filter

Make sure to change your air filter at least once every three months, if not sooner. Dust gets trapped in the air filter over time – which blocks the flow of air to the rest of your house. This can make your HVAC system work harder than it needs to!

 

The East Central College Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Program offers an Associates of Applied Science or Certificate of Specialization.  Students learn the basics of installation, maintenance and repair, preparing them to enter the workforce as technicians. Learn more about the program!