Celebrations All Around

(left to right) Mark Hickman, ASEP Instructor; Tim Felch, Welding Instructor; Paul DeMuth, Director of Operations; Tim Wynes, J.D. ,DCTC Interim President; Representative Anna Wills (R-MN); Tim McCluskey, ASEP Instructor; Mike Opp, Interim Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs

DCTC Celebrates the Holidays and Phase I Renovation

Dakota County Technical College opened its doors to faculty, staff, retirees, community members and many more for a holiday celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 5, 2013. Approximately 200 people attended the event, including local business leaders, legislators and members of the DCTC Foundation.

The official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Phase 1 Transportation & Emerging Technologies Remodel took place at 4 p.m. near the automotive technology shops and classrooms. The ceremony marked the opening of new, modern classroom spaces and program area shops that had not been renovated since the initial construction in 1973. The $7.23 million, 55,200 square foot renovation began in May 2013 and was open to students in the fall semester 2013.

Visitors had opportunities throughout the evening to tour the newly renovated areas, which included areas of the following programs: Welding Technology, GM ASEP, Automotive Technician and Auto Body Collision Technology. For more Phase I information and photos, visit the Bonding Projects webpage.

An additional $7.59 million in state bonding funds has been requested to complete Phase II of the project, which will include 66,550 square feet and the following program areas: Heavy Duty Truck Technology, Heavy Construction Equipment Technology, Nanoscience Technology, Energy Technical Specialist, Civil Engineering Technology and DCTC’s central commons.

Tim Wynes, J.D. | DCTC Interim President

Randy Rue | Valley Buick GMC Service Manager

Mike Opp | Interim Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs

The holiday celebration continued in the West Atrium, showcasing beautiful, loud, loved and gaudy holiday sweaters. The annual holiday sweater runway show drew crowd applause, but the prize went to Michelle Keske, College Lab Assistant, who stood out from them all. Luke Dowell, Instructional Technology Center Tutor, also left a winner– not with a sweater, but his name was drawn for the door prize with a $50 Visa gift card.