President Tomblin Addresses Williamson Rotary

New programs, construction of a technology center and the success of the Major Gifts Campaign Vision 2020 were the focus of Joanne Jaeger Tomblin, President of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, as she spoke to members of the Williamson Area Rotary Club on Tuesday, September 2nd at The Brass Tree. President Tomblin highlighted upcoming plans for the Williamson Campus, including the construction of a new Technology Center. A ground-breaking ceremony is planned for the spring of 2009.

During the 2007 West Virginia Legislative session, the legislature agreed to the sale of bonds for the purpose of constructing new campuses and technology facilities for the state's community and technical colleges. Southern is scheduled to receive between $6 and $8 million dollars for the construction of a technical facility at its Williamson Campus. Although planning for these facilities is still in the preliminary stages, President Tomblin discussed some of the possible programs that may be available once the new facility is constructed. College officials are currently working with business and industry in the region to determine what programs may be needed locally. "We continue to work closely with Major General Allen Tackett on the acquisition of the National Guard Armory property. The College still intends to purchase the Armory when it becomes available, however, but due to the timing of the bond funds, the College will need to begin construction and complete the new facility within three years of receiving the funds. Therefore, the new facility will be constructed at another location on the current College property," President Tomblin stated.

New programs being offered at the Williamson Campus include Respiratory Care Technology and a certificate program in Electrocardiology (EKG). The college also houses a day care center on campus which has helped numerous students with their children as they attend classes. The state has now focused their efforts on the recruitment of adult students and retraining the current workforce. President Tomblin stated, "The new technology center will assist the College in attaining these goals. Community and technical colleges have the technology and the curriculum to train workers quickly at an affordable cost, and we are excited to do so."

Since Southern launched its Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies in September of 2006, approximately 4,000 people have been trained for jobs in the mining, gas and oil industries. Most of the skills acquired are a result of hands-on training via simulators, such as a rock truck and an underground coal mine.

Even though Southern's enrollment is expected to increase this year, President Tomblin pointed out that southern West Virginia still has the lowest college going rate in the state. Southern representatives continue to visit area schools in an effort to increase that number by offering dual credit classes, which affords students the opportunity to earn college credit for classes they are taking in high school. The college's Foundation also helps, by providing scholarships for qualifying students in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. The Southern Foundation distributed $142,000 in scholarship monies last year alone, and is expected to increase in 2009, President Tomblin said.

With less state funding available, the college has prepared for the future by initiating its very first Major Gifts Campaign with a goal of seven million dollars by the year 2010. Since the fall of 2006, the Vision 2020 major Gifts Campaign has received more than $6.4 million in contributions and pledges to sustain faculty, support new programs, provide financial assistance and to keep tuition at a low cost.

"Our employees and the community have been very supportive. Several businesses have stepped up to provide additional scholarship money. We recently received a $40,000 donation from Cotiga Development Company and we continue to partner with Cotiga in developing the Appalachian Leadership Academy which was established by General Robert "Doc" Foglesong," President Tomblin said. Four students were inducted into the academy last December and 10 more are expected to qualify as fellows this year.

"It is important that we, as a community, support young people in leadership roles. We must give them a reason to stay in southern West Virginia where they can earn a good salary with benefits and support a family. This is a great area to live and we at Southern want to be the place people think of first for education and training."

For more information about programs offered at all campuses of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, visit the web site at www.southernwv.edu.

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Pictured are Mike Baldwin, Ted Williams, Cecil Shannon, Vinnie Kudva, Southern's President Joanne Jaeger Tomblin, Gordon Hensley II, Paul McCallister and Rocky Ball.