College Relations and Marketing |
Released: 10/22/2009 - Printer Friendly
WAHPETON, N.D. – (October 22, 2009) – For helping a welding student literally climb to new heights, members of the manufacturing department at the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) were presented with the Steeple Award today. NDSCS President John Richman, Ph.D., announced the award at the college’s annual Recognition Day ceremony at the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the NDSCS campus.
The Steeple Award is presented to an individual, employee group or committee for "climbing new heights." It is awarded for using new and innovative methods to accomplish the recipient’s role on campus.
The manufacturing department earned the award for building a custom wheelchair for welding student Jordan Kay. Kay was paralyzed from the waist down in a childhood car accident, but did not let that deter him from his career goal of becoming a welder. Kay enrolled in the welding program at NDSCS, but found it difficult to work with some of the welding equipment because of the height and movement restrictions of a normal wheelchair.
To help Kay realize his career goals, the manufacturing department went to work designing and building a customized wheelchair for him. The "Cadillac" chair, as Kay refers to it, uses hydraulics and special weighting to allow Kay to achieve a near-standing position, which gives him the flexibility and positioning to work with welding equipment safely and effectively.
"We could not be more proud of our manufacturing department for the work and spirit they put into the creation of this chair," said Richman. "This group far exceeded their normal job duties to help a student succeed. They did a good thing and are an inspiration to all of us who call ourselves teachers. We can all learn something by their example."
The wheelchair has received significant media attention in mainstream outlets, as well as journals in the welding, manufacturing and disability services industries.
"This has generated attention," Richman said, "because it is both a technical marvel and a tremendous boon to this young man’s future."
The NDSCS faculty members designed the chair themselves, using the latest technology, and tested it continually until it performed as they intended. "They were undaunted in the effort and took great joy and pride in creating a useful device," said Richman.
Jordan Kay is currently employed as a welder for the city of Minot. "The story of this chair had a great ending when Jordan secured that job," Richman said. "We wish him a long and successful career doing a job he loves."
Members of the NDSCS manufacturing department include: Jay Schimelfenig, Joel Johnson, Steve Johnson, Vance Harthun, Clint Gilbertson, Tim Thompson, Lincoln Thompson and Lee Larson.
NDSCS is a two-year, comprehensive, residential college with its main campus located in Wahpeton, N.D., and a second site, referred to as the Skills and Technology Training Center, located in Fargo, N.D. NDSCS offers degrees, certificates, and diplomas in over 80 academic options in traditional career and technical studies as well as the liberal arts. The college also offers a variety of Distance Education courses. Approximately 95% of graduates from its technical programs find jobs in their chosen fields.
Unlike most two-year colleges, NDSCS boasts a university atmosphere for its students, complete with residence halls, 35 affiliated clubs and organizations, music groups, theater productions, intercollegiate athletics, intramural athletics, and numerous social activities. For more information, visit www.ndscs.edu.
