
This summer Ranken has eleven young new faces on campus working as interns through the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant. With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the ATE program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation’s economy. The program involves partnerships between academic institutions and employers to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels. The ATE program supports curriculum development; professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; career pathways to two-year colleges from secondary schools and from two-year colleges to four-year institutions; and other activities. Another goal is articulation between two-year and four-year programs for K-12 prospective teachers that focus on technological education. The program also invites proposals focusing on research to advance the knowledge base related to technician education.
Ranken was awarded the $900,000 grant in September 2011 which was part of a $1.9 million package to create an "educational pipeline" to careers in technical fields. This grant combines with the College’s new $1 million scholarship fund, which will be used to ensure St. Louis city students have access to an education at the College.
"There is a significant need for highly-skilled technical workers in this region," said Ranken president, Stan Shoun. "We have to make sure that we are graduating enough students with the right skills to meet the needs of employers." In order to do that, Shoun says the school has to do three key things. "We have to provide a great technical education, we have to make sure that education remains accessible to all types of students, and we also have to get these kids interested in a technical career at a young age. This grant and scholarship fund will help students learn more about the lucrative, secure careers that are available."
Other programs included in the grant are Ranken’s Summer Adventure Academies, workshops for educators, support for local robotics leagues,
SkillsUSA, Dual Enrollment, microenterprises and a new TRiO Mentorship program.
The interns, who are all high school graduates who will start classes at Ranken in the fall, are working in various areas around campus depending on their major. They are paid an hourly wage through the grant and are required to complete 150 hours of service in their assigned area this summer.
Some of the students were identified and selected based on their performance during SkillsUSA. Other students were selected by the individual department.
bioMerieux Microenterprise
Andy Alderman, HVACR Lewis & Clark
Zach Engelmeyer, PMT South Tech
Tyler Laird, EAT Alton HS
Machining Microenterprise
Willie Greer, PMT Collinsville HS
Brandon Kutrip, PMT South Tech
Nickolas Setchfield-Lenox, PMT South Tech
Automotive Division
James Chesser, ACR Lewis & Clark
STEM Pathways Office
Marin Dunn, IT Notre Dame HS
HVACR Department
Robert Gamache, HVACR South Tech
Carpentry Department
Michael Johnson, CRP South Tech
Welding Department
Mike Tomaszewski, HVACR Collinsville HS
Three of the interns placed during various levels of the SkillsUSA competition and were awarded Ranken scholarships:
- James Chesser - Received $1,500 for placing first in Automotive Refinishing at districts, $2,000 for placing first at State and another $3,000 for placing second at the National competition.
- Robert Gamache - Received $1,500 for placing first in HVACR at districts.
- Nickolas Setchfield-Lexon - Received $1,000 for placing second in Precision Machining Technology at districts.