Welding Capstone Project Produces Nearly Perfect Pipeline
(L-R) Hadley Cluxton, Josh Ray and David Acosta inspect their welds on their capstone project.
Students completing their Welding Technology capstone project managed to accomplish a feat most professionals would be thrilled to have. They built a scaled-down version of a gas pipeline with over 1,000 welding beads on the structure. After testing, it was discovered it only had five leaks.
Charlie Farmer, Welding Technology Instructor, said, "That's as good as it gets for student work, and it won't be this good in a real system. Basically I'm proud of my guys and girls."
The structure stretches, climbs, and winds its way through the back of the welding shop waiting to be dismantled during the fall semester as a midterm practical exam for the cutting processes class.
It wasn't just the pipe welding class who put this closed pipe system together. "We started out last fall with Sheridan's (Howard) CAD class. They did the print work, then in the spring the Symbols and Specifications class did the take off work," Farmer said.
These students had to figure costs and man-hours then present a bid to be made to Robert Anderson former dean of Engineering and Applied Technology. "He took the low bid, and this summer the same students built it," Farmer said. The class with the winning bid was the day class program. They even have their own company name: D & C Welding and Fabrication.
The students pieced together the project using numbers on each weld for grading. The system was filled with water, and the leaks were identified. "Then we drained it, fixed the leaks and filled it up again to make sure the leaks were fixed," Farmer said. "We train them to be professionals."
There were nine students in this class and each student had the responsibility of being the foreman for a week. "Everything was their responsibility," Farmer said. "On Fridays they took the Inspection and Testing classes then they would come in and test and inspect their own welds."
Design Corps Summer Studio Students Build Bus Stop From A-B Tech Campus
Design Corps Summer Studio students unveil the bus stop they designed and built for the Shiloh Community. Members of the community were there to celebrate with the students.
A-B Tech hosted eight architecture students while they were designing and building a bus shelter for the Shiloh community.
The students from UNC-Charlotte, Virginia Tech, Syracuse University and the University of Virginia were part of Design Corps Summer Studio. Design Corps is a nonprofit community service organization based in Raleigh working to create positive change in communities through design. Students were able to receive three credit hours for their work.
Ken Czarnomski, chair of Construction Management Technology, had talked with Bryan Bell, founder and director of Design Corps, this past fall through their association with Neighborhood Housing Services. They wanted to work on a project together using the Summer Studio students and A-B Tech. "It was an initiative to see if we could do it. It had never been done before," Czarnomski said.
A-B Tech supplied facilities for the students to work. "We provided guidance, but we did not do any construction," Czarnomski said. The students used welding, carpentry, machining and CAD training here on campus to design and build the bus shelter.
Design Corps volunteer Kelly Lowery served as head teaching assistant for the summer project. She helped with obtaining permits and documenting the process. The students designed the bus shelter themselves since they pay to be in the program. "It's really beautiful. I have to hand it to the students," Lowery said. "Everyone at A-B Tech has been amazing, helpful and encouraging. It's been wonderful working with A-B Tech."
The architecture students and A-B Tech summer students got a lot out of it, Czarnomski said. "We're looking forward to trying this again next year."
Universal Campaign Kickoff Approaching
The A-B Tech 2005 Universal Campaign to benefit the United Way and the College Foundation is coming to a divisional meeting near you. Divisional coordinators will contact faculty and staff to schedule meetings in September and October.
"Thanks to you and your support, we have been able to provide 55 scholarships for 2005-06 totaling nearly $70,000 so far this year," said Libby Hodan, Foundation Development Officer. This is nearly double the number of scholarships given last year.
Your contribution will provide hope, encouragement, and inspiration to our students, College, and community. For them, it's an opportunity to create a different life for their families, a chance to attend college, and a way of reaching a long-time career goal.
In 2004, the A-B Tech Foundation received $32,096 in employee contributions with an overall 71 percent employee participation rate. United Way contributions topped $29,215 with 69 percent employee participation. The goal this year is to get closer to 100 percent participation.
Smart Start Grant to Benefit A-B Tech Early Childhood Education
A-B Tech's Early Childhood Education Department has received a grant from Smart Start of Buncombe County for $94,760 to allow for more non-traditional instruction time.
The money will help A-B Tech fund the salaries of two additional full-time faculty members in order for the college to offer additional day, Saturday and evening classes. The positions are for a 12-month and a 9-month faculty member.
"It means the availability of more advisors and more one-on-one time with students to help them succeed in college," said Pam Kirby, Early Childhood Associate instructor
The grant, for 2005-06, is the first year of a three-year cycle grant. It will also help pay for additional supplies for the classroom.
"The grant allows us to offer our students opportunities that would otherwise not be available. Because of the grant, we are able to offer classes at alternative times and days that better meet the needs of those who are currently working with young children. The end result is higher quality care for the children in Buncombe County" said Cathy Pollock, Early Childhood Education Chair.