MILTON ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” Students in the carpentry, electrical technician, graphic design and other programs at the Cabell County Career Technology Center have been working on renovations at the community center at the Milton Volunteer Fire Department.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœIt feels awesome to be able to know that weÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re able to get out and do something great for the community,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ 15-year-old Mason Glassburn said.
On Wednesday, Glassburn was helping other students in his program create a more ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœfinished lookÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ for the walls on the inside of the community center, covering up the original metal wall interior. Throughout this process, students in the adult electrical technician program will work on installing new lighting and switches, firefighter Dale Martin said.
Martin is also the graphic design teacher at the career center. He said his students will be working on ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœrebrandingÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ the fire department, and creating a new ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœidentity.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ
The center itself is a multi-purpose building where community events, like bingo and wrestling matches are held, but it has also been used as a cooling station during hot summer days and a gathering place where resources are provided in the event of a flood.
But, according to Martin, the building hasnÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t been updated since it was originally built in the late 1980s to early 1990s and has been basically a ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœmetal shellÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ with steel girders and trusses ever since in need of a ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœmassive upgrade.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ
He said the result is going to be a ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœcleaner lookÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ with an updated kitchen area, main event space and even a simulation house where new firefighters can be trained on rescue procedures.
Part of the upgrades, Martin said, would also include new light receptacles, exit signs, furniture and a new sound system. He said new concrete has already been poured.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœIt does mean a lot because this is my hometown, so IÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ve been in this building more times than I can count, and just when I come back in here, just seeing what weÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ve created here, itÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ll be really lovely,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ said 17-year-old Cameron Jackson, who is also in the carpentry program at the career center.
Funding for the project was provided through a LoweÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s Hometown Grant of $142,000. Being a local volunteer fire department, Martin said they ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœsurvive off grants.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ Most recently, Martin said the department was given grants to use to purchase a new side-by-side for wilderness rescue, as well as a new trailer.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœInstead of just being a community room, (the center) is going to have its own identity, where we can put signage out, logos out and business cards and stuff ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ¦ weÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re a cooling station in an emergency center in case of disasters and stuff, but itÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s also going to be a place to rent. People can rent for all kinds of events and things like that. So thatÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s one reason why weÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re stretching our dollars by making it nice,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ Martin said.
Tony Vaughn, the instructor for the adult electrical technician course, said the work at the center is the first project his new class of students will be able to complete this school year.
Besides giving the students a chance to work on a project that could benefit the community as a whole, Vaughn said having his students out of the classroom, working on hands-on projects is ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœsatisfyingÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ for them and teaches them practical skills in a real-world scenario.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœI think one of the main things weÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re learning is communication skills, and knowing the important importance of communication,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ Glassburn said of working on a real-life project with his team from the career center. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœYouÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ve got to have great communication, great problem solving skills ... great, just, mindfulness of your surroundings.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ
For Billy Rose, a student in VaughnÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s adult program, the project is giving him more experience in a commercial setting, whereas heÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s typically practiced with residential lighting.
Martin said the project has been a ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœtotal collaborationÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ between the career center and the firefighters and will continue to be until the centerÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s expected grand reopening on Nov. 15.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœ(The fire department) is on a deadline, and they gotta get it done, and they wouldnÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t have been able to do it without the career center,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ Vaughn said. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœ(Dale Martin) mentioned it, and we jumped all over it. ItÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s a great opportunity to help them out and help out our students in the process.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ
