Gadsden- Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) and the Etowah Chamber held a ribbon cutting for the Newly Opened Gene Haas Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center (AMC) in Gadsden on Wednesday.
Students from the the new Gene Haas Center for Advanced Machining and Engineering Technology were the focus of the event, which is expected to be a great asset to the Gadsden Community. Those students were welcomed in style to an ovation, as they were featured at the start of the event
Dr Kathy Murphy, GSCC President made remarks at the beginning of the ceremony welcoming those in attendance and speaking on the importance of the center to GSCC and the Gadsden Regional Area:
WEIS Radio Spoke With Dr. Murphy Following the Ceremony, you can view that interview here:
Following Dr. Murphy Speaking, vice president of Capital Projects, Community Relations and Workforce Development at Gadsden State Community College took to the podium to introduce Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford who welcomed to facility and spoke on its importance to the Gadsden Regional Area
VP Alan Smith Then returned to the podium to speak leading up to a balloon release by the other stars of the show, robots.
Those in attendence also heard from Dean of Workplace Development Andy Robertson
The new facility was named in honor of Gene Hass and the Gene Haas Foundation. Many racing fans, or those in the manufacturing industry will be familiar with the name. Haas is the American founder, president, and sole stockholder of Haas Automation, a CNC machine tool manufacturer. He also has a presence in motorsports, having founded NASCAR teams Stewart-Haas Racing and Haas Factory Team, as well as the Formula One team, Haas F1 Team.
His foundation
Kathy Looman, the Managing Director of the Foundation was on hand for the dedication and spoke on the history of Mr. Haas and what his legacy through the foundation means, and the future that it can hold for Students of the new AMC.
Having the Haas Name associated with the facility is fitting when you see it. Many people who have first seen the facility are blown away at what they see. WEIS Radio was talking to Career Technical Education Advisor Meghan Prendergast while touring the facility following the ceremonies. One thing we noticed, was how pristine and clean the facilities are. She said many people immediately notice the same thing. A lot of people may come in expecting a typical workshop type environment. This place looks like it could be a food preparation area. Prendergast credited that to not just the staff who take great pride in the facility, but the students. She said they are amazing at keeping the facility clean, and take great pride in their learning and workspace environment.
She also stated how great it was to see students who came through the program, progress in their fields, and seeing them grow in their education, and their financial opportunities that are created through the program. She talked of what a great opportunity there was for students in the area, and from other areas as well to have the program, and what it could do for future careers. It mirrored much of what we heard from Mrs. Looman when she spoke. If you have a student who may be interested in the program, it would be well worth a visit, or speaking with someone at Gadsden State to see what opportunities are available at a facility that will rival on in programs anywhere.
In the gallery below, you can see a little of the facility itself, and some photos from the event. People who chose, even got to take a little of it home with them. Coasters that were manufactured in the facility by the students who were being honored, were given as a token of the day to those in attendance.
