For now and upcoming years

Series on the Upper Valley CC and donations concludes

Originally published in the Piqua Daily Call March 1, 2014

By Bethany J. Royer

Editor’s Note: This is the conclusion to a 12-part series look at donations and the Upper Valley

Career Center. Part one ran Saturday, Nov. 30, part two Dec. 7, part three Dec. 21, part four Dec.

28, part five Jan. 11, part six Jan. 18., part seven Jan. 25., part eight Feb. 1., part nine Feb. 8, part

10 Feb. 15, and part 11 on Feb. 22.

PIQUA — There’s a lot to be said about the many programs at the Upper Valley Career Center

after visits to the design and digital print technologies, horticulture and landscape management,

pre-engineering and design technologies, and manufacturing and machining. Far more than could

ever be covered in this 12-part series on donations to the school that included a World War II

500-volt generator formerly used by the Navy for communication devices or a 1966 Cherokee

airplane. The $50,000 in donated equipment to the HVACR (Heating/ventilation/air

conditioning/refrigeration technologies) and 5,000 pounds of steel to the Welding Technologies

class.

Each donation, whether physical or financial, plays a pivotal part in aiding both the school and

students, with the last stop at the auto services program where a donated 1997 Chevy Monte

Carlo awaited its final destination.

Would it be disassembled, sold, or become a possible reward to a student?

However, before we discover the vehicles’ fate, Terry Krogman, instructional supervisor, had a

few more areas of the auto services program to showcase including $20,000 of paints and paint

machinery that had been donated.

“So again, donations, it’s wonderful, I don’t know how we’d operate without them,” said

Krogman as he explained the science behind the painting of a vehicle, a mixing process that

includes environmental friendly additives that requires specific formulas to get the correct color

result. Again, a high tech process in a very high tech environment. “Much more than you

realize.”

The program does custom work, repairs and more, while trying to stay away from major repairs

such as totaled vehicles, says Krogman before showing photos of a project students tackled last

year, one near to his heart. A Harley Davidson motorcycle the instructor had purchased with both

before and after snapshots, the latter with a completed paint job. “They did a wonderful job.”

The paint work showcased a part of the students’ training as they learn to utilize a paint booth,

one that provides a filtration system for the air such as during sanding, while warming the air

during the painting application process. Another serving as a prep area for smaller paint jobs.

Since the students must learn a variety of repair jobs they also train in welding, as covered in part

9 of this series.

“There’s a lot to take in and do while they are here,” said Krogman, but what of the Monte Carlo

that started the series? The donation from long-time Piqua resident, Stu Shear?

“We will be keeping the Monte Carlo in the automotive programs to serve as an educational

tool,” said Krogman in a recent email to update the final decision on the vehicle . As the Chevy

is relatively good shape it will be used as a training vehicle so students will have a chance to

practice removing, reinstalling and diagnosing components as they would in the real world. “It’s

nice to have a vehicle that shows some signs of wear but still nice enough for students to want to

work with.”

According to Krogman, the Monte Carlo will serve many students in the automotive technology

level 1 and 2 programs, and those in the auto services level 1 and 2 programs until it is outdated

or no longer useful as an educational tool. At which point it will be sold for scrap, the money put

back into the program.

“As you can see, this donation will be useful for now and upcoming years,” wrote Krogman.

“Many students will have an opportunity to learn from one person’s generous contribution.”

For more information on the many programs available at the Upper Valley Career Center visit

www.uppervalleycc.org

Bethany J. Royer may be reached at 773-2721 or on Twitter @TheDailyCall