What's Happening at Ranken Technical College

Another Year for Service Project

Ranken students, alumni and staff participated in Rebuilding Together (RT) working to upgrade a home on Euclid just West of the Ranken campus. Led by alumnus, Nick Wiltse (INT 2011) 30 volunteers painted, trimmed, cleaned and installed cabinets for two elderly women who met the guidelines for the Rebuilding Together project. 

Joining Team Ranken were members of a Christian fraternity fellowship group who assisted with a home in South City. Members of each group worked to fulfill scholarship and grant service hours or out of kindness to others. Through corporate sponsorship and private donations, 50 homes requiring over 1,200 volunteers were serviced in the St. Louis area. RT will hold two more service days in July and September.

Thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their Saturday to help in this project. We hope you will join us again next year!

2012 Commencement Breaks Records

On Saturday, May 12 Ranken held its 2012 Commencement Ceremony at Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University.

This year’s graduating class was the largest in the College’s history, with more than 1,000 students eligible to graduate and approximately 600 students participating in the ceremony.

The keynote speaker for the event was Michael McMillan, Lincense Collector of the City of St. Louis. McMillan has spent more than two decades pursuing ways to advance educational opportunities to under-served students. He began creating scholarship funds while still in high school at Bishop DuBourg and continued his service as an alderman and as co-founder and chairman of the board of directors of the St. Louis Community Empowerment Foundation.

McMillan gave a powerful and motivational speech on what it means to be "a Ranken grad" and that their education should not only be used as a means of support but also as a means to continually better themselves and serve others. He also surprised all in attendance by committing to a $100,000 endowed scholarship fund for students at Ranken. The College would like to thank Mr. McMillan for his time and very generous contribution.

The David Ranken, Jr. award was presented to graduating Industrial Technology student Alex Glenn. Glenn graduated with a 4.0 GPA, nearly perfect attendance for all four semesters and an "Exceeds Expectations" in work ethic in all four semesters. He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, a recipient of the STEM and

President’s scholarships and was involved in community service activities with Ranken as well as with his church. Glenn worked as a student worker in the Buildings and Grounds department at Ranken and has now been hired as full-time general maintenance technician.

Prior to the Commencement Ceremony, the Alumni Association held an anniversary celebration to honor Ranken graduates who were celebrating their 50 year graduation anniversary.

 

Student Ambassadors Celebrate Graduates

Last week Ranken’s student ambassadors took time to celebrate the members who will be graduating this weekend. At the last meeting of the semester held on Tuesday, May 1, each graduate received a bronze medallion that will be worn during the commencement ceremony. Congratulations to the following student ambassadors on their graduation:

Back L-R:

Christian Mudd (EAT/CST)

Jeremiah Brummel (EAT/CST)

Kyle Laine (EAT/CST)

Bronson Miller (ACR)

Eric Heckman (ART)

Randy Fields (INT)

Abdullah Matteuzzi (HVACR)

Front L-R:

Bill Sterner (EAT/CST)

Anthony McDaniel (EAT/CST)

Columbus Partee (EAT/CST)

Jamelle Johnson (ESDT)

Clay Williams (ACR) (not pictured)

The Spring 2012 Exceptional Ambassador Award was also presented. Congratulations to all of the ambassadors who were nominated:

» Katherine Bangert (IWT)

» Kyle Laine (EAT/CST)

» Marcus Chaplin (INT)

» Bryan Sohn (ART)

» Clay Williams (ACR)

 

　

This semester’s winner was

 

Kyle Laine!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a student for this award.　

 

On Thursday, May 3 a group of 30 ambassadors went on the annual trip to see a Cardinal’s baseball game. Though the game was a loss, everyone had a great time hanging out and taking the day away from campus before finals week begins.

Thank you to everyone who has helped to support the Student Ambassador program this year. The program is accepting applications for the fall 2012 semester and will begin interviews the first week of school.

 

Ranken Supporting Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Thousands of wounded warrior and caregivers receive support each year through WWP programs and services designed to nurture the mind and body and encourage economic empowerment and engagement. WWP began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need. What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist warriors as they recover and transition back to civilian life.

Ranken’s own Sergeant Robert Killoren is organizing a golf tournament fundraiser in support of WWP. Sgt. Killoren is active duty and a student in the BSAM program. The tournament is scheduled for August 4, 2012 at the Sunset Hills Golf Course and will consist of 4-man teams. Cost is $400 per team and includes all green fees, food and beverages. Other activities will include a break glass challenge, a celebrity drive hold, a putting competition, a 50/50 drawing, a silent auction and a hole-in-one challenge.

The College is sponsoring a team for the tournament as well as donating a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded. All students, staff and faculty are invited to be on the team as well as forming other teams. To join Ranken’s team, contact Pat Capps in the president’s office.

If you or someone you know would like to help with the event by sponsoring a hole or donating items for the silent auction, please contact Sgt. Killoren at (314) 669-4787. The event also has a facebook page at http://fb.com/supporttheirsacrifices.