Grand Opening for newly-renovated CTE facilities & sculpture unveiling, Sept. 17

The public is invited to attend a Grand Opening for the newly-renovated Career Technical Education facilities at Linn-Benton Community College Tuesday, September 17 at the northeast entrance of campus, 6500 SW Pacific Blvd, Albany.
 
The program begins at 10:45 a.m. with an unveiling of a sculpture created by LBCC art and welding students. A ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m., with tours of college career technical programs to follow.
 
Guest speakers include Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, Albany Mayor Sharon Konopa, Selmet Vice President Marc Christman, Oregon Freeze Dry Vice President John Damon, CoEnergy Propane General Manager Randy Camp, Festo Didactic USA CEO Thomas Lichtenberger, LBCC President Greg Hamann, and LBCC Dean of Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation Technology Steve Schilling.
 
Renovation of LBCC career technical programs brings the latest in cutting-edge technology and education to students, which leads to high-wage jobs and helps to meet regional workforce needs. The $20 million project was funded in part by a local bond, state legislature, the City of Albany, and industry partners.
 
The project included renovation of programs in Mechatronics, Welding and Industrial Fabrication, Machine Tool, and Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation using facilities that came available after the college’s automotive and heavy equipment diesel programs moved to Lebanon.
 
LBCC's first-ever monumental sculpture was designed by LBCC Visual Arts student Bryce Smith, whose work was chosen by a committee comprised of community members and college staff from student work submitted by LBCC Art Department Chair Renee McKitterick, which was part of a design class specifically created for the project.
 
LBCC Welding and Fabrication Technology students constructed the sculpture, under the direction of welding faculty Marc Rose.
 
More than 18,000 students rely on Linn-Benton Community College each year for higher education. LBCC offers 85 degree and certificate options in seven core areas of study, and provides career technical education, transfer degree programs, professional development, corporate training, small business development, community education classes and more. LBCC has six locations including its main campus in Albany and centers in Corvallis, Lebanon and Sweet Home.