Six facility maintenance occupational endorsement students honored

November 7, 2013

Cornerstone

Months after Henry Agnes signed up for Construction Trades Technology classes at UAF’s Interior-Aleutians Campus; he used those skills to help rebuild Galena.

“I wanted to learn more about plumbing, insulation and boilers,” says Henry Agnes, a Nulato resident who found out about the rural facilities maintenance classes from a flier at the post office. “This summer I worked for a plumber contractor in Galena. We did some good work out there installing boilers and repairing a lot of plumbing, especially waste water and sewage.”

The rural facility maintenance occupational endorsement is a collection of nine one- and two-credit classes that give students an overview and how to trouble shoot boilers and heating and cooling systems; finish carpentry, building repairs, installing cabinets, counter tops and flooring; plumbing; appliances and safely using power tools. Each class includes face-to-face instruction from instructors with decades of practical experience and hands-on training.

“After completing these classes, students are not experts but do have the practical skills to save money on home repairs and slash their home heating costs,” says Michael Hirt, assistant professor and CTT program head. “It also helps students, like Henry, land their first construction job.”

Agnes was one of six CTT students who were honored by I-AC at a completion ceremony in late October held at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Wesley Silas and Frankie Silas of Minto; Michael Tritt and Lance Stanfill of Fairbanks; and Clifton Wiehl of Tanana also earned occupational endorsements in rural facility maintenance.

Their education was made possible by a grant from the Department of Labor’s Denali Commission that supported their tuition and fees. Tanana Chiefs Conference paid travel and lodging costs for rural students.

“An investment in education yields dividends for a lifetime” says Karen Johnson, program director for the Denali Commission. “Construction is a high-demand occupation. Not only does the construction industry offer well-paying jobs, it helps build Alaska.”

From as far away as Minto, family members, university and community leaders came to recognize the students’ achievement. Hirt welcomed attendees to the event and gave a brief overview of the occupational endorsement that focuses on providing solutions to the challenges unique to rural Alaskan structures. Pete Pinney, interim vice chancellor/executive dean of the College of Rural and Community Development, presented students with their completion certificates. Karen Johnson, program director for Denali Commission, Brenda Krupa, director of employment and training at the Tanana Chiefs Conference, and Fred Villa, associate vice president of Workforce Programs University of Alaska, also addressed the graduates.

The 12-credit occupational endorsement is a stepping stone to a university certificate and then an associate degree. It also helps students land a construction job or apprenticeship.

“I heard about the classes through my tribal council,” says Frankie Silas. “I suggest everyone who sees the opportunity take it because it will expand your employment. Everything is hands on. It’s a good way to meet employers.”

Since 1989, Interior-Aleutians Campus has integrated lifelong educational opportunities with rural Alaskan and Alaska Native communities, cultures and ways of life. I-AC faculty and staff are committed to empowering our students with the tools they need to be successful whether their goal is an occupational endorsement or certificate for a trade, continuing education units, an associate or bachelor's degree. For more information, call 907-474-5439 or visit at www.uaf.edu/iac/ or on Facebook.