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SPC awarded grant for hybrid technology education
by Erica Pauda, News Editor
South Plains College recently received a $210,000 grant from
the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to expand on hybrid
technology.
“The grant categorization is JET (Job and Education for
Texans) programs,” says Rob Blair, dean of technical
education.
The grant is for one year, which is long enough to purchase
the equipment for the automotive program, according to
Blair.
“The grant is strictly for equipment to expand hybrid
technology and automotive skills,” says Blair.
There are two technical programs, automotive technology,
which is provided at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology
Center in Lubbock, and automotive service technology on the
Levelland campus.
“This grant would only fund one program,” says Blair. “To
find the solution, we are going to combine the curriculum
into one program that will just provide course work in
separate places.”
When students look in the catalog to sign up for this
program, it will be separated into two different programs.
So in order to meet funding requirements, the program is
identified as the SPC automotive program, adds Blair.
“Two years ago, I started to expand on what I started from
Ford Motor Company,” says Blair. “They donated us an
Equinox. We were the first community college that Ford Motor
Company donated a vehicle.”
The concept of the idea is what Blair had been focusing on.
It was just a matter of hiring the right faculty to teach
the technology, and also concentrating on getting the funds,
he explains.
“Based on demands from the automotive dealerships pertaining
to hybrid technology, we are going to expand out and teach
much more,” adds Blair.
The process Blair and the automotive faculty must go through
to achieve that goal include integrating hybrid technology
into eight established automotive courses that are currently
offered in both automotive programs, according to Blair.
“Hybrid technology is becoming part of our curriculum,” says
Blair.
All of the courses that will have integrated hybrid
technology include AUMT 1445- Automotive Heating and Air
Conditioning, AUMT 1306- Automotive Engine Removal and
Installation, AUMT 1419- Automotive Engine Repair, AUMT
2421- Automotive Electrical Lighting and Accessories, AUMT
2413- Automotive Drive Train and Axles, AUMT 2425-
Automotive Automatic Transmission and Transaxle, AUMT 2434-
Automotive Engine Performance Analysis II, and AUMT 2328-
Automotive Service.
“This is from state funds,” says Blair. “The requirements of
the grant were to do something that you’re not currently
doing. Do something that you feel is in great demand that
you don’t currently do. Anything that we do in technical
education is to meet industry demand in our service area.”
The grant funds will buy equipment parts such as a 2010
General Motors Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD, General Motors Hybrid
Essential Global Diagnostic System Diagnostic Tool, 2010
Ford Fusion Package 500A with Full Hybrid Technology, and a
2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid/Gas/Electric 4-door, according to
Blair.
“Hybrid technology in our service area is getting to be more
of a large industry, so we are gearing up our equipment to
meet that demand,” he adds.
Students who would like additional information about any of
the automotive courses listed can contact Gary Ham or Gary
Ufford, automotive program instructors on the Levelland and
ATC campuses, respectively. |
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Conference assists Warria in taking step toward change
by Ellysa Gonzalez, Associate Editor
Intercontinental connection.
That is the goal of the Clinton Global
Initiative organization, which was held April 16 through
April 18 in Florida and attended by more than 1,000 students
and 100 college and university presidents from all over the
world, along with other notable socialites. One of those
students was Teddy Warria, a sophomore pre-medicine major
from South Plains College.
The meeting was held at the University
of Miami in Coral Gables. Many entrepreneurs gathered to
share their ideas and start setting them in motion. The
shared common goal is making a difference in the world.
“The conference takes in students who
have committed to take some action solving problems,” Warria
says. “They help you with the ‘how.’ How can we solve the
problem? They connect you with the right people. They
connect you with people who believe.”
One of the main concerns is making sure
people have their basic needs taken care of. There are five
Global Challenge areas that attendees of the CGI U look to
solve. Those areas include: education, environment &
climate change, peace & human rights, poverty alleviation,
and public health.
“One of the goals is making sure that
people who don’t have access to the basic needs always have
access and use,” Warria says. “We need to be our brother’s
keeper to the best of our ability, to move the world into a
more equitable direction economically.”
The availability of resources is what
makes this task more challenging. CGI U attendees come
together to find ways to overcome this issue. The
conference gives them the opportunity to share resources
with each other, if possible.
“Intelligence is evenly distributed
around the world,” Warria says. “But resources are not.”
To attend a conference, all one has to
have is a commitment and a plan of action to help fix a
global issue. This year, Warria’s commitment was promoting
economic development through patient capital, social
entrepreneurship, and the Acumen Fund. Warria says that to
be able to attend a conference, one has to make reservations
ahead of time.
“You have to apply for it,” Warria
says. “You don’t pay anything to attend the conference,
but for the second trip, I paid for the airline ticket.”
This was the Nairobi native’s second
time to attend the conference. His first conference was the
CGI U 2009 meeting in Austin, Texas. Warria says that one
of his more memorable experiences of the conference was
meeting former President Bill Clinton, and actor Matthew
McConaughey.
“My first conference that I went to
last year was very meaningful because the book we are
writing, ‘Common Vocabulary,’ was being presented by CGI U,”
Warria says. “Matthew McConaughey said he thought that idea
was incredible.”
He says the other thing he enjoys about
attending the conference is meeting other students from all
over the world. He likes the idea of an interconnected
global atmosphere.
“We are trying to make a world where
each child of every race and every nation can come together
and change the world with the talents that God gave them,”
Warria says. “Students and leaders from college campuses
who pledge themselves to change the world by using their
God-given abilities.”
Warria says the meeting taught him that
intelligence is not the only thing needed to make a change.
To make a change, one has to take action, even if the action
is not seemingly related to their cause. Warria says that
the CGI U conference measures the commitment that has been
made toward an entrepreneur’s cause.
“It taught me volunteer work is good,”
Warria says. “A lot of people have forgotten the meaning of
‘work’ in volunteer work.”
Warria is passionate about his cause
and strives to reach his goal. He says that he knows his
earthly purpose and will stop at nothing to reach it because
everyone is equal.
“I believe I was born to help bridge
the gap between the rich and poor in an interconnected world
through entrepreneurship,” Warria says. “I want to reach
that goal. That’s why they invited me, so they can help me
reach that goal.”
He says that one of the forces that
drives him is an old African philosophy.
“I am my brother’s keeper,” Warria
says. “I believe in the African philosophy which means, ‘I
am, because you are.’ We are all equal under the eyes of
God.” |
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