Indigenous 
St. Lawrence College (SLC) received a donation of metallurgical testing equipment worth $287k that will significantly bolster training in five programs in applied science and the skilled trades.
The equipment was donated by a local industry group who are choosing to remain anonymous. The group has strong ties to the College as employers of many SLC graduates, as well as providing placements for students. Students that will benefit from the equipment include those in the Mechanical Technician, Millwright Apprenticeship, Machinist Apprenticeship, and Civil Engineering Technology programs on the Kingston Campus, as well as students in the Welding Apprenticeship program on the Cornwall Campus.
With this donation, the College's material testing and heat-treating equipment will be augmented, allowing SLC to stand out among Ontario's 24 colleges. As one of the only colleges with this type of equipment that supports integrated training, SLC is poised to be the college of choice for prospective students in these fields, according to Eileen DeCourcy, Senior VP, Academic at SLC.
“This equipment will help the students in their training to become better machinists, millwrights, and welders as it is more advanced and reflects what they could encounter in real-world employment situations,” DeCourcy said. “This training will also allow students to work in other related fields such as CAD and tool design and be qualified for jobs in the transportation and aircraft safety industries, as well as iron, steel, and polymer manufacturers.”
The equipment is currently being retooled and will be used starting as early as winter 2021, when it will provide critical hands-on training opportunities for students. Donations like these offer a sustainable way to repurpose specialized equipment once the needs of an organization have changed. The College would like to acknowledge the Eastern Ontario College Consortium (EOCC) Steel and Aluminum project, who are supporting the retooling of the equipment, and development of rapid skills training/curriculum for this industry.
“I want to thank our donors for this significant gift and for thinking of St. Lawrence College students in determining where to donate this equipment,” said Glenn Vollebregt, SLC President and CEO. “They have been big supporters of our College in hiring our graduates. Now, with this donation, St. Lawrence College will be at the forefront of training our students for the jobs of the future.”
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