NPC breaks ground on new Marine Technology building

The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown DIGGING IN: The National Park College Board of Trustees and representatives from the school's Marine Technology program conduct a mock groundbreaking for the school's new Marine Technology building at the campus on Wednesday.
The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown DIGGING IN: The National Park College Board of Trustees and representatives from the school's Marine Technology program conduct a mock groundbreaking for the school's new Marine Technology building at the campus on Wednesday.

With golden shovels in hand and hard hats on head, officials at National Park College symbolically broke ground Wednesday on the new Marine Technology building.

"This is certainly a big day for the college, and for our students, especially," NPC President John Hogan said.

The event was originally scheduled to take place outdoors in the area where the new building will be raised, but due to the threat of rain, officials moved the ceremony indoors to ensure the safety of all involved.

Construction of the new facility is in direct response to the need for expansion of the program to accommodate the rapidly growing demand for marine technician professionals, both locally and across the region, college officials said.

Marine instructor Delmar Hunter said he has seen a rate of 100 percent student job placement after graduation for the past five years.

He also said that the difficulty marine tech students face is not finding a job after graduating from the program, but rather in staying in the program to complete the coursework despite offers of immediate employment before graduation.

"This industry desperately needs this program. We are hopeful that this new facility and the exposure from it will bring in students to fill the jobs our partners need," said Hunter.

At 7,500 square feet, the facility will triple the current size of the program's workspace. The structure will have four 25-by-60 foot bays.

The new building, designed by Lewis Architects Engineers, will feature a classroom, office space, storage space and room to expand.

According to Hogan, it will have "All the things we need to invest in our students being successful."

"This facility will be the only one of its kind in the state of Arkansas, and one of very few in the United States," he said.

The project is a component of phase one of the campus master plan, which also includes construction of the Student Commons building and a new entrance from Mountain Pine Road.

Hogan expressed gratitude to all of the industry partners who support the Marine Repair Program, including Yamaha, Mercury, BRP, Volvo Penta, Xpress/Veranda, Aloha Pontoons, Trader Bill's, Futrell Marine, Orr Marine, Ouachita Marine, and Mountain Harbor.

"When you hear the names of those companies, you understand why we're investing in this opportunity for our workforce and our community, and especially our students," Hogan said.

"All of this is about, for NPC, moving the attainment needle, getting credentials and degrees in students hands so they can earn money, help companies be more profitable, help our community continue to grow and improve our quality of life, and this investment will pay off in that way," he said.

"One of the passions for the area for me is to increase economic development and it starts with education, no question about it. The economic development aspect is to expand and retain business in the area and at the same time, retain and attract young people that have a skill to the area," said NPC Board of Trustees Chairman Forrest Spicher.

"I have been on the lakes and streams my entire life and it only makes sense that Marine Technology be a part of the educational delivery system for National Park College," Spicher said.

Local on 04/26/2019

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