What's Happening at Ranken Technical College

Threatening Weather Doesn't Dampen Car Show Attendance

 

Photo: Student Ambassador Jeremiah Brummel (right) with racing legend Kenny Schraeder

Even the threat of severe weather couldn’t keep local car enthusiasts away from Ranken’s 9th Annual Car Show and Alumni Reunion which was held this past Sunday on campus. About 1,000 guests of all ages attended the event and over 230 vehicles registered to compete in the 19 different classes. Registrants had the opportunity to take part in the action by voting for their favorites then a "Participant’s Choice" was awarded in each class.

Many food, drink and entertainment vendors were on hand as well as local business sponsors. A couple of highlights included a visit from the Arch Rival Roller Girls and an appearance by racing legend Kenny Schrader who graciously signed autographs for racing fans.

Also during the event, the annual prize raffle was held as well as an Alumni Reunion luncheon sponsored by Schaefer Autobody Centers for all Ranken alumni. Jim Kyle, former Ranken instructor and members of the class of 1972 held their 40th class reunion and the first annual Spark Plug Challenge was held sponsored by ET Tuning. Proceeds from the 4- in 4-out spark plug timed contest benefitted the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

For additional photos, visit Ranken’s Flickr page.

Congratuations to the following participant’s who took first place in their class:

 

1. Original, 1900-1948

Ryan Brazier, Florissant, Mo., 1912 Ford Model T

 

2. Original, 1949-1965

Don Loyd, St. Louis, Mo., 1956 Chevy Belair 4-door

 

3. Original, 1966-1975

Les Schwenk, Bridgeton, Mo., 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible

 

4. Original, 1976-1995

Jason Prichard, Highland, Ill., 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra

 

5. Original, 1996-2002

Ryan Vandillen, Warrenton, Mo., 1998 Pontiac TA WS6

6. Original, 2003-present

Charles Morgan, Florissant, Mo., 2010 Chevy Camaro

 

7. Street Rod modified, 1948 and older

Jim Davis, Cedar Hill, Mo., 1933 Ford Coupe

 

8. Modified Cars, 1949-1975

Jim Dalton, O’Fallon, Mo., 1956 Chevy Bel-Air

 

9. Modified Cars, 1976-1995

Don Lopen, St. Louis, Mo., 1977 Pontiac T/A

 

10. Modified Cars, 1996-present

Jason Prichard, 2011 Mini Cooper S

 

11. Street Machine, 1949-1975

Tyler Richardson, St. Louis, Mo., 1971 Chevy Chevelle SS

 

12. Street Machine, 1976-present

Jerry Zielinski, Jr., St. Louis, Mo., 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo SS

 

13. Full Size Trucks, including 4x4s

Sharon Walsh, St. Louis, Mo., 1954 Ford F100

 

14. Mini-Trucks and SUVs

Joe Titchenal, Granite City, Ill., 1993 Dodge Dakota,  

15. Imports, 2000 and prior

Ryan Harrison, St. Louis, Mo., 1976 VW Super Scirocco

 

16. Imports, 2001-present

Jason Brassard, Fenton, Mo., 2010 VW CC

17. Sport Compacts

Frank Ramdesiri, Chesterfield, Mo., 1957 VW Bug

 

18. Under Construction

Stephen Peters, St. Louis, Mo., 1937 Pontiac Coupe

 

19. Special Interest (includes motorcycles)

Joe Marino, St. Ann, Mo., 1986 Kep Dino 246

 

Group from Chicago Makes Trip to Ranken's Campus

Five students along with one building trades instructor and one auto instructor from East Aurora High School in Aurora, Ill. visited campus last week. Aurora is just south west of Chicago and is the second largest city in Illinois. The group was led on a tour through Automotive, High Performance, Carpentry, Precision Machining and Langenberg by admissions counselors Mike Mays and Josephine West. They also toured the building trades teacher through the RCDC homes on Evans Avenue. In addition to the tour the students had the opporutnity to take part in a mini shadow-a-tech day in Automotive and High Perfomance and stayed in the dorms Tuesday night. Ranken’s President, Stan Shoun even tried to convert the "Cubs Territory" students by treating them to a night at Busch Stadium for a St. Louis Cardinals game.

Ranken Hosts Student Night for American Welding Society

On April 12 Ranken once again had the opportunity to host the annual "Student Night" for the local chapter of the American Welding Society (AWS).

The organization holds this meeting each year to recognize outstanding welding students and to promote student involvement in AWS. To begin the meeting, refreshments were served in the atrium of the Mary Ann Lee Technology Center then presentations followed in the new R.W Staley Auditorium. Prior to the event AWS invited high schools, colleges and trade union schools from a 50 mile radius to nominate one outstanding student of the year to attend the event. Approximately 100 people attended and had the opportunity to hear keynote speaker, Rick Suria from Alberici Construction, learn more about local welding programs at union schools and had the opportunity to win many door prizes which were generously donated by local companies. The AWS Awarded 11 scholarships, two of which went to Ranken students!

Congratulations to the following Ranken students who each received a $500 scholarship from AWS:

Bo Darwin Hader, a welding student from Kaiser, Mo.

Joseph Adams, a welding student from Belleville, Ill.

 

Spark Plug Contest Success

Weather could have been better for the 9th annual car show and alumni gathering but even so 232 cars came out for the shortened day. The alumni Spark Plug Challenge contest (4 out 4 in timed event) was a hit. Nathan Allen (Ranken alum) won a "champ" trophy and screwdriver set donated by Snap On tools for a time of 38.20; Thomas Cole came in second with a close time of 38.87 and Walter Wright with 40.68. My time was 1.08:59! What fun it was and all for Ranken Alumni Scholarships. You'll see it again next year!

Thanks to ET Tuning in Union, Mo. for sponsoring the event and donating cylinder heads and plugs including volunteers Marty Hill and Dave Riley (Ranken alum) employed there. Ranken alums, Don Huster, Mike Schweiss and Larry Schmidt were also instrumental in making this activity a success!

Much thanks also goes to Schaefer Auto Body Centers who provided lunch for all the Ranken alums who came to the alumni area. See you next year!

Erzinger Receives James W. French/French Gerleman Scholarship

Electrical student, Philip Erzinger was recently awarded the James W. French / French Gerleman Scholarship.

This scholarship was set up In memory of French Gerleman’s former president, James W. French and is awarded to students enrolled in Ranken’s Electrical Automation Technology program.

Erzinger graduated from Valmeyer High School and is a second-year EAT student. He also serves as a student worker for the maintenance department on campus.

RCDC Receives Excellence Award

Pictured L-R: John Wood, Ranken’s vice president for student success; Betty Krump, ATEA executive director and Dr. Larry Moser, ATEA president.

In January 2012, Ranken was informed that the Ranken Community Development Corporation (RCDC) had been selected to receive the American Technical Education Association’s (ATEA) 2012 Outstanding Technical Program Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding technical program at a postsecondary technical education institution that is exemplary and contributes to the nation’s workforce. Requirements of the award include, cutting-edge instruction, a knowledgeable and active advisory committee, and involvement with local business and industry.

At the end of March, Ranken’s Vice President for Student Success attended ATEA’s National Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi to receive the award. Congratulations to all of the faculty, staff and students who are involved in RCDC on receiving this award!

 

 

Students Show Off Skills at State Competition

Over the weekend of March 30 - April 1, Ranken students who placed first or second in the Regional SkillsUSA competition had the opportunity to go to Linn State in Linn, Mo. to compete in the Missouri State competition. As in the past, Ranken students fared very well and 10 of them will be moving on to the National competition to be held in Kansas City, Mo. the weekend of June 25 -26.

Congratulations to all of our students who competed and to the first place finishers who will be moving on. Thank you to all of the faculty and staff who made the trip to Linn State to participate and support our students!

Architectural Drafting

Bryan Sohn 2nd place

Alexander Carter 5th place

 

Architectural Drafting Technical Information

Bryan Sohn 2nd place

Alexander Carter 5th place 

Automated Manufacturing Technical Information

Ian Wille 1st place

Blaine Mescher 2nd place

Jeremy Franklin 3rd place

Scott Martin 4th place

Nick Goris 5th place

Ghreg Wellmaker 6th place

 

Automated Manufacturing Technology (Teams)

Scott Martin 1st place

Blaine Mescher

Ian Wille

Jeremy Franklin 4th place

Nick Goris

Ghreg Wellmaker

 

Automotive Refinishing Technology

Katie Beck 1st place

Shawn Brummet 9th place

 

Automotive Service Technical Information

Lucas Klinkhardt 1st place

Josh Myers 3rd place

 

Automotive Service Technology

Josh Myers 1st place

Lucas Klinkhardt 2nd place

 

　

Carpentry

Ryan Faust 1st place

Joseph Len 5th place

Carpentry Technical Information

Joseph Len 2nd place

Ryan Faust 5th place

 

CNC Milling Technology

Matthew Warnecke 1st place

Jared Cheatham 4th place

 

CNC Turning Technology

Andy Schaefer 2nd place

Aaron Farrington 3rd place

 

Collision Repair Technology

Stephen Hayn 2nd place

Ben McLean 7th place

 

HVACR

Chris Duwa 3rd place

Jeffrey Thompson 4th place

 

Precision Machining Technology

Nick Moutrie 5th place

Robert Bindrim 6th place

 

Welding Fabrications (Team)

Tyler Doerr 1st place

Jeff Pope

Robert Thompson

 

　

 (Blue indicates moving on to the National competition.)

 

Pictured L-R: Stan Shoun, Ranken’s president, Vince Holtmann, faculty project manager for Ranken’s Education and Manufacturing Cooperative and Pat Mickle, BSAM director

On Tuesday, April 3 the Lincense Collector’s Office of the City of St. Louis hosted a "Manufacturing Industry Briefing" at City Hall. The event included presenters and exhibitors all focused on the manufacturing industry. Stan Shoun, Ranken’s president, Vince Holtmann, faculty project manager for Ranken’s Education and Manufacturing Cooperative and Pat Mickle, BSAM director, all attended the event to represent the College.

Presenters included representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce – U.S. Commercial Services, the U.S. Small Business Administration, St. Louis Development Corporation, St. Louis County Economic Council (Free Trade Zone), St. Louis Area on Training and Employment, the Missouri State Department of Economic Development and the Office of the License Collector.

Though the main focus was exporting, presenters also gave helpful tips on how to sustain and grow a business in these difficult economic times.

 

 

Women In Technology Honor May Graduates

Pictured L-R: Megan Murphy (Architecture), Jessica Brandmeyer (Architecture) and Jenna Stutsman (HVACR).

On Wednesday, April 11, the Women In Technology group held their final meeting of the semester and honored the women who will be graduating in May. The group enjoyed lunch and then presented each graduate in attendance with a Ranken gift bag. To end the meeting, the women played the "left-right game" read by MIssy Borchardt, Architecture instructor.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting and helped to honor our women graduates! The Women In Technology (WIT) group provides female students and female employees at Ranken a forum to discuss issues, socialize and get acquainted with other females on campus. The group has monthly meetings throughout the school year which include speakers from local businesses, successful women in the community and Ranken alumni. The group is planning to hold orientation sessions for new female students starting at Ranken in the fall. Sessions will include lunch, the chance for students to meet other women faculty, staff and students on campus and learn more about the Women In Technology program and other ways to get involved on campus.

 

NATEF Recertifies Automotive Division

Every five years, Ranken’s Automotive program must be recertified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). The process is tedious and includes a lot of documentation, reports and a site visit.

On Friday, March 30, an evaluator from the NATEF and two local automotive industry experts came to campus to review the general automotive program to ensure that they are continuing to meet all NATEF standards in curriculum, faculty credentials, equipment, tools and consortial partnerships. Ronnie Raines served as the program’s accreditation coordinator and was responsible for most of the organization and documentation needed for the visit. The evaluator was very complementary of Ronnie’s careful organization of the data and supporting evidence.

The department will be recommended for recertification without any corrections. Congratulations to Ronnie Raines and the entire Automotive division!