What's Happening at Ranken Technical College

Spark Plug Challenge

Enter the Spark Plug Challenge with a friend at the upcoming Ranken Car Show on April 15th. 

Sponsored by the Alumni Council this challenge will test your skills at spark plug changing— 4 out and 4 in—the fastest time wins a prize! At the end of the day are you the fastest? Champion trophy will be given during the awards ceremony for the fastest time recorded. Singles, duos and teams are welcome. The cost per timed contest is $1 and all proceeds go toward the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

See you there!

 

Godfrey Business Owner Mike Edwards Visits Campus

Mike Edwards (1990 HVAC) spoke to 40 or more students and faculty during the February Alumni Entrepreneur Workshop on campus. Mike had much to tell 'from the heart' and first-hand experience. Students kept him even longer with questions about the HVACR field.

Mike is pictured here with Chris Brueggeman (L) depatment head and Kevin Joyce (R) HVACR faculty.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Alumni Entrepreneur Workshop please contact Kathy Fern. We are looking for graduates who own their own businesses and can relate the path of that success. The next workshop will be held on campus in September.

Ranken Support from Many

Thank you to the following donors who made a gift of $1,000 or more in support of the programs at Ranken Technical College between July 1 and December 31, 2011. We appreciate all of our donors and gifts in any size. Contributions support campus growth and success and we couldn't do it without you.

Adorjan Family Foundation
Air Masters Corporation
Ameren Missouri
American Express/Members Give
Austin Machine Inc.
BKD, LLP
Ballmann Family Foundation
Elizabeth E. & Joseph H. Bascom Charitable Foundation
Theresa Belding
bioMerieux Inc.
Bitrode Corporation
Boeing Company
Cardinal Steel Supply, Inc.
CARSTAR St. Louis Business Group
Russell E. Cayse
Chelar Tool & Die, Inc.
City of St. Louis Community Development Administration
Richard P. Conerly
Designs For Tomorrow, Inc.
Charles W. Disbrow, II
Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers
Dennis D. Dvorachek
Ehrhardt Tool & Machine Co.
Emerson
Emerson Process Management Instrument & Valve Services
Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
French Gerleman Electric Co.
Fresh Ideas Management, LLC
Nance and Alan Frost
Lou Fusz Automotive Network
GKN Aerospace Services
Edward Chase Garvey Foundation
Clifford W. Gaylord Foundation
John R. Goodall Trust
Hammerts Iron Works
HBE Corporation
Heidtman Steel
Home Builders Association
Hunter Engineering Company
Interco Charitable Trust
JM&A Group
Pamela B. Jackson and John R. Bush
Robert and Doreen Jaudes Charitable Fund
Laclede Gas Company
Lanny Lamont
Oliver Langenberg
Mary Ann Lee
Lewis Pumps
John Allan Love Charitable Foundation
MARS Motors & Armatures, Inc.
Mascal Electric, Inc.
Maverick Technologies
Midwest CMM Services
Edward L. Monser
James R. and Mary Moog
National Science Foundation
Nu Way Concrete Forms Inc.
Overhead Door Company
Patterson Mold & Tool
Pettus Foundation
J. Jeffrey Pitts
Red Bud Industries
William Rueckert, Jr.
Stan Shoun
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
Elsie St. Cyr
Robert W. & Elizabeth Staley
Stupp Bros., Inc.
Sunnen Products Company
Albert E. Suter
The Saigh Foundation
Tomara Corporation
Tool Specialties Company
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
Tubular Steel Inc.
U.S. Department of Education
US Bank
Valent Aerostructures
W.R. Persons & Associates
Walker Precision Machinery, LLC
Joseph D. Wibbenmeyer
John M. Wolff Foundation
Jill E. Wood
John E. Wood
The Herbert A. and Adrian W. Woods Foundation

Should you wish to join this list of our many friends in the community by giving a gift to Ranken, go to our giving pages and click the donate button in the upper right. Any size gift will help programs, scholarships and general needs of the college.

HVACR Campus Workshop

Mike Edwards, Jr. a 1990 HVAC alumnus will be featured in the next Alumni Entrepreneur Workshop on campus in the Gray 108/109 room Wednesday, February 8 at 11:30 a.m.  Mike is the owner of King Air Conditioning and Bush Refrigeration in Godfrey, Ill. 

Along with his wife, Karen, Mike started King Air after years as a service technician. Hear how Mike made decisions to move on, start his own business, and add a second.  Mike's son, Bret, works in the family business and is a student in HVACR.

This session is open to all students, faculty and alumni.  Join us!

Six Flags Ticket Purchases Benefit Scholarships

Ranken is grateful to the 134 amusement park and Fright Night fans who purchased tickets through the Ranken and Six Flags ticket partnership program. As a result of these online purchases, Six Flags has donated $536 to Ranken's Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. 

This discounted ticket program will be available for selective dates during the upcoming 2012 amusement park season. Contact Kathy Fern in the Alumni Relations office for ticket prices, dates available and Ranken's special promo code to use.

Thank you thrill seekers and Six Flags! 

 

 

Schnucks Shoppers Help Students

Over 250 Ranken supporters (students, staff and families) contributed over $400 to scholarships in 2011 by shopping at Schnucks stores and swiping their eScrip card at check out. Ranken is one of the many charities locally that benefits from this national program. If you shop at Schnucks regularly or once in awhile, your purchases can help Ranken's scholarship program. Contact Kathy Fern in the Alumni Relations office, (314) 286-4895, for your card. Cards can be used at any Schnucks store. The hardest part is remembering to have it swiped!

Thank you Ranken Schnucks shoppers!

Join the Texting Trend

Prefer to text? Would you like to donate a gift via text? Donations to Ranken Technical College can now be made via your cell phone. Text RANKEN to short code 20222 to donate $10.00. You will also have to respond 'yes' to a gift confirmation text and you will receive a text confirmation of your gift within minutes. Your donation will appear on your cell provider monthly invoice which serves as your receipt. Give as many times or as many months as you would like. 

Messaging and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe/opt out at any time during your text gifting process by texting STOP to short code 20222 or text HELP to 20222 for help.

As a donor your privacy is important to us. You may review our privacy and confidentiality policies here http://www.ranken.edu/development/giving-ranken/privacy-confidentiality.  

"Rebuilding Day" Annual Community Service Event

Alumni and students are invited to participate in the national Rebuilding Day sponsored by St. Louis' Rebuilding Together organization. This day of giving back to the community by repairing, rebuilding and upgrading homes of the elderly, handicapped and low income in the St. Louis area will be held on Saturday, May 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Groups all over the country will be joining together to help others on this national day of service. This is the 3rd year for Ranken's involvement in this event and is a fun day supporting a good cause. Only a helping attitude, 25 workers and a house captain are required. Personal tools are a plus! Join us as we assist a homeowner near the Ranken campus and continue support of our neighbors.

Pictures of previous Rebuilding Days can be found at our Flickr Page.

Contact Kathy Fern, (314) 286-4895 or email ktfern@ranken.edu with your interest or questions.

Time To Nominate Distinguished Alumni!

It is time again for annual nominations for the Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni Award to be presented at Ranken's May 12 graduation celebration at the Chaifetz Arena. These awards honor Ranken graduates who have excelled in their career and given back to their community. The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2012. 

The criteria, nomination form and additional information can be found at  http://www.ranken.edu/alumni/honoring-our-alumni under Awards. Any questions can be answered by contacting Kathy Fern, (314) 286-4895 in the alumni office.

Recipients will receive a commemorative plaque and name inscribed on a perpetual plaque. 

Past recipients are Distinguished Alumni Earl Walker (2010) and Tom Wood (2011) and Distinguished Young Alumni are Andy Raines (2010) and Jeff Scott (2011).

Alumni Remember the Past

William Boedeker (Machine Shop 1965) retired in 2001 from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and tells us he was recently evacuated from his home during the Las Conchas wildires. Luckily for him he was able to return after seven days without any loss. What Bill remembers about his Ranken education is "the personal attention I got from the instructors".

Rob Wirth (Architecture 1971) is the president of Wirth Professional Services, Inc. in Gillespie, Ill. He remembers "the only attitude that was acceptable at Ranken was that I was there to learn. All the instructors had a personal interest in me, our well-being and to give us a good education."

Dean Tepen (Automotive Maintenance 1986) remembers "the fact that I made it!"

Marshal Pinnix (Precision Machining 1999) wrote that his favorite memory of Ranken is "walking across the stage to receive my diploma. I'm proud to have gone to a college with zero tolerance for those who choose not to succeed. Ranken was hard and demanding. Thanks to all for the experience!"

Elizabeth Maue (Advanced Welding 2009) is a maintanance engineer at Dillard's. She says, "my favorite Ranken memory is meeting new people and having great teachers!"

Send your memories of your Ranken education to ktfern@ranken.edu to be posted or published. We are happy to hear from our alumni and look forward to seeing you back on campus in the near future.