What's Happening at Ranken Technical College

A Note of Thanks

Ranken wouldn’t be the institution that it is today without help from generous contributions. From January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012, the alumni, faculty, corporations and friends below gifted $1,000 or more for programs, equipment and scholarships. Any gift of any size is welcomed. We couldn't do it without you - thank you!

Advertisers Printing Company Inc.

American Express/Members Give

Anheuser-Busch InBev

Gertrude and William A. Bernoudy Foundation

bioMerieux Inc.

Boeing Company

Cardinal Steel Supply, Inc.

Chelar Tool & Die, Inc.

City of St. Louis Community Development Adm.

Classic Aire Care

Datotel

Charles Disbrow

Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers

Dennis Donnelly

Drury Hotels Company, LLC

EMS Group Inc.

Emerson

Enterprise Holdings

Fluke Corporation

John Henry Foster Company

Robert Gau

Goedecke Company Inc.

E. Reuben & Gladys Flora Grant Charitable Trust

Heidtman Steel

James Hoagland

Mary Ranken Jordan & Ettie A. Jordan Foundation

MB Steel Company, Inc.

Major Brands

McCarthy Building Companies

Michael McMillan

Mississippi Lime Company

Monsanto Fund

National Sales Company

National Science Foundation

Marianne Nothum

Pepsico

Jerry & Peggy Ritter

Rotary Club of St. Louis

Santie Oil Company

David Schepers

Seyer Industries Inc.

Drew Shands

Stan Shoun

Snap-On Industrial

Edith Spink Estate

Strait-Flex International, Inc.

True Manufacturing

Tubular Steel Inc.

U.S. Department of Education

 

MVTAP Awards Annual Scholarships

Photo: Members of MVTAP present a scholarship check to JD Chesser (front row middle).

On Tuesday, September 11 members of the Metro Vocational and Technical School Assistance Program (MVTAP) met in the College’s CARSTAR classroom in the Rodenheiser building and presented their annual scholarships to two Ranken Automotive Collision students.

MVTAP was started in 2004 with the mission to professionally advise and assist vocational-technical collision programs in the Metropolitan St. Louis area. The program is currently made up of 20 members who are all associated with AASP-Missouri, local body shops, insurance companies or collision suppliers or vendors. MVTAP strives to collect and distribute donations (such as scholarships) with the intention of raising the quality of education and training for students to better prepare them to enter the collision repair industry. MVTAP provides $6,000 in scholarships each year to students graduating from North and South Technical high schools and Lewis and Clark Career Center. The scholarships can be used at any post-secondary technical school but are matched if the student chooses to attend Ranken.

During the meeting, first semester ACR student James (JD) Chesser, a graduate of Lewis and Clark, was awarded a $1,500 scholarship from MVTAP and will receive the same amount for the spring 2013 semester. Ranken will match both of the scholarships provided by MVTAP and has also awarded Chesser $4,500 in scholarships for his excellent outcomes at the district, state and national SkillsUSA competitions.

Mike Smith, a first-semester ACR student from South Technical High School was also awarded a scholarship during the meeting in the amount of $750. Like Chesser, Smith will receive this amount again in January and Ranken will match both scholarships. Smith also received $1,000 from the College for his performance during the SkillsUSA competitions.

Along with providing scholarships, MVTAP offers support by providing financial assistance to Skills USA membership dues for students, assisting with the Regional SkillsUSA competition held at Ranken, sponsoring Ranken’s annual car show and serving on the high schools’ advisory boards to guide to programs with expertise in the industry and by suggesting equipment needs and curriculum. MVTAP host an annual Golf Tournament to help raise funds to support their program’s mission.

To apply for the scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:

• Academics (Maintain 80% or B average in shop class. Maintain 70% or C average in academic classes)
• Reliability (able to complete assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Dependability (maintain 80% attendance in both shop and academic classes
• Leadership (the ability to influence others in a positive manner
• Teamwork (the ability to work toward a common goal by supporting / encouraging others)
• Work ethics (act ethically and honestly in all business practices
• Pride in their Work (having a positive attitude in completing a quality repair job)
• Member of Skills U.S.A. (in good standing)
• Recommendation from shop instructor or school principal.
• 500 word essay on why they want to be a collision repair technician.

Photo: Members of MVTAP present a scholarship check to Mike Smith (front row middle)

Rodenheiser Project is Underway

Photo: The Rodenheiser building is undergoing a major remodel.

The drive up Newstead Avenue toward Finney Avenue has a much different look as crews continue the major remodel of the home of Ranken’s Automotive programs. Work on the Rodenheiser building began earlier this summer with the demolition of the parking lot outside of the Automotive Collision shop, which will eventually be a brand new addition to the facility. Over the last couple of weeks the east wall has been completely removed and preparations for the construction of the footings for the new addition are underway. The true transformation will begin taking place in mid- October with the installation of the structural steel. The final product will include more than 23,800 square feet of new and remodeled space which will include classrooms, shops, a student lounge, an elevator and restrooms.

The Rodenheiser building has a long history and the easternmost section (ACR) is possibly the oldest structure on campus. According to the St. Louis Transportation Museum, the building opened in 1892 as a streetcar "shed." United Railways closed the facility in 1928 and then was reopened by the St. Louis Public Service Company as a bus garage in 1940, then closed again in 1953. Prior to Ranken purchasing the building in 1960, McDonnell Douglas used the space for a wing assembly plant and research center. The building was renamed Rodenheiser in 1973 after George B. Rodenheiser, the first Ranken graduate (class of 1915) ever to be appointed as the school’s director (1954). Rodenheiser had previously served as a Plumbing instructor, head of the Plumbing department and assistant to the director. He was also a registered professional engineer. During his tenure he took a very aggressive approach to updating and refreshing Ranken’s image as a technical powerhouse and was instrumental in connecting the College to industry. By the mid-1960’s the school was developing training programs with Chrysler, Ford and Chevrolet and at least 30 employers were subsidizing their own workers in campus programs. Other significant changes during his time as director included the admittance of women, the first being Peggy Jo Miller, a graduate of Cleveland High School who received a certificate in Television and Radio Servicing in 1976 and a name change to The David Ranken, Jr., Technical Institute.

Rodenheiser served as the director until September 1972 when he submitted his resignation after suffering a stroke and was no longer able to continue his duties.

The building was used for various business and programs but was gradually completely occupied by the Automotive department. The building was even used for several years as the site for commencement.

The project is estimated to be completed by spring of 2013.

Automotive Jumps On Microenterprise Bandwagon

Photo: ACR has started a new microenterprise to modify a 1998 Champ Car

Ranken’s Education and Manufacturing Cooperative and the Automotive Collision Repair department have teamed up to undertake a new microenterprise. ACR student workers and faculty will be working to modify a champ car for a client of Can-Am Cars LTD, a company located in St. Louis which specializes in hard to find parts for race cars. The company was recently approached by a customer in Indiana to help restore a 1998 champ car, once driven by Sylvester Stallone in a movie, to be used as a display "wall hanger."

"We saw this as another great opportunity to expand our microenterprise efforts," said Vince Holtmann, director of the Education and Manufacturing Cooperative at Ranken. "We asked ACR to submit a proposal and estimate for the work and it was accepted."

Over the next few weeks work will be done on various parts of the car to get it back to near original condition for the client who plans to pick up the car at the end of September.

"This is a great real-world experience for our students,"said John Helterbrand, ACR division chair. "They are getting paid to apply what they have learned in their first semester of classes and to do what they love. Participating in the modification of this car is a great resume builder for them."

Senior Celebration

Its that time of year where all seniors and faculty start counting the days in celebration of graduation. All December 2011, May 2012 and August 2012 seniors are eligible to walk in the May exercise held at the Chaifetz on the St. Louis University campus. To celebrate, seniors pick up their caps and gowns, have light refreshments, and are provided with information about the alumni association, continuing education, class rings, and Bachelor programs.

250 seniors participated in the celbration event. Class pictures were taken and attendance prizes awarded. Thanks to Herff Jones for providing a $25.00 gas card, a scrapbook portfolio, book and book bag. Other prizes include tickets donated by the Gateway Grizzlies, St. Louis Renaissance Faire tickets and alumni polo shirts and other alumni items.The day was all about seniors and good wishes for a bright future!

This year, veterans are being honored with red, white, and blue chords like the traditional chords for Magna, Summa and Cum Laude grade point averages. Thanks to other Ranken departments Career Services, Trio Services, BSAM, Lois Ingram's photography class and Herff Jones for joining in and making this day EXTRA special for the graduates!

Pictures of the event and class pictures will be posted on Flickr.

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.)

 

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!

 

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!

 

Beck Receives Scholarship from MVTAP

Pictured: Back row L-R: Ken Neuman (South Tech instructor); John Heltebrand (Ranken ACR instructor and division head); Mike Kuechler (Lewis & Clark instructor); Ron Reiling (AASP executive director); Ken Kohnen (Snelson Collision Repair) and Mark Bennick (North Tech instructor). Front L-R: Mike Croker (Automotive Technology, Inc.); Gene Slattery (Automotive Technology, Inc.): Katie Beck (ACR student) and Dan Shymanski (State Farm Insurance).

The Metro Vocational-Technical Assistance Program (MVTAP) was started in 2004 with the intention to professionally advise and assist vocational-technical collision programs in the Metropolitan St. Louis Area. The program is currently made up of 20 members who are all associated with AASP-Missouri, local body shops, insurance companies or collision suppliers or vendors.

MVTAP strives to collect and distribute donations (such as scholarships) with the intention of raising the quality of education and training for students to better prepare them to enter the collision repair industry. MVTAP provides $6,000 in scholarships each year to students graduating from North and South Technical high schools and Lewis and Clark Career Center. The scholarships can be used at any post-secondary technical school but are matched if they choose to attend Ranken.

Along with providing scholarships, MVTAP offers support by providing financial assistance to Skills USA membership dues for students, assisting with the Regional SkillsUSA competition held at Ranken, sponsoring Ranken’s annual car show and serving on the high schools’ advisory boards to guide to programs with expertise in the industry and by suggesting equipment needs and curriculum. MVTAP host an annual Golf Tournament to help raise funds to support their program’s mission.

On Tuesday, January 17, members of MVTAP meet in Ranken’s CARSTAR room located in the Rodenheiser building to discuss plans for 2012 and to present a $2,000 scholarship check to Katie Beck, an ACR student. Beck is a graduate of Lewis and Clark Career Center and is in her second semester in Ranken’s collision repair program. Beck was also awarded a $2,000 scholarship in August which was matched by Ranken and added to the scholarships she earned from the College for placing first in the Regional and State SkillsUSA competitions.

"Katie was selected for one of the scholarships this year for many reasons," said Ron Reiling, executive director of Alliance of Automotive Service Providers and member of MVTAP. "She presented herself well and interviewed very well. After five minutes we knew this young lady was going some where in the collision business. She has great skills to go along with her great personality."

 

"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.