Waldschmidt Honored

DiAnna Waldschmidt was honored during the May 2006 Alva Campus Awards Assembly as being a "Friend of Northwest Tech". Waldschmidt taught Health Services at Northwest Tech for a number of years before stepping into her current role as Business and Industry Health Services Coordinator. Waldschmidt plans to retire at the end of May 2006.

Alva Campus Honors Supporters

Two Alva citizens were honored as "Friends of Northwest Tech" during the Awards Assembly on May 13, 2005.

Harry Dunker has served on the Northwest Technology Center Foundation Board since its inception and currently serves as vice president. Dunker was selected for his continuous support of the school and its programs. "Harry's always willing to do anything that we need done," Assistant Superintendent Dwight Hughes said. "At the end of the year picnic for the foundation staff, Harry cooks. He helps put on the golf tournament every year. He's hired some of our students as VAP."

Halah Long is the Senior English instructor at Alva High School. This year Long was in charge of the Medical Explorers group. "We also tried a new thing this year where some of our business and industry coordinators talked to the senior English classes about credit card debt and being on their own," Hughes said. "Halah was instrumental in putting all of that together. She had different presenters come up every day for two weeks."

Cargill Salt Honored As Partner In Progress By Oklahoma Department of Career Tech

Cargill Salt of Freedom was honored for its contributions to the development, promotion and progress of Oklahoma 's Technology Center system during the recent Career and Technology Education Summer Conference held in Tulsa .

Cargill representatives Mick Berning and Michelle Schroeder accepted the award. The company was nominated for the award by Northwest Technology Center .

“The Partners In Progress Award recognizes businesses and industries which have demonstrated their commitment to the Career and Technology Education system in a variety of ways including financial support, cooperative programs, community involvement and student sponsorships,” said E. Elaine Schuster, Oklahoma Association of Technology Centers president.

“Cargill has been a great supporter of career and technology education,” according to Freelin Roberts, Northwest Technology Center Superintendent. “Cargill has played an important role in the development and progress of the Business and Industry program by being an active member of the Advisory Committee and by providing input as to current industry demands in the areas of software, professional skills and knowledge needed for students to be prepared for the workplace.”

“This award is a testament to what Northwest Technology Center does for area businesses. Northwest Technology Center provides us with a very cost effective way to provide training to our employees in all aspects of business from safety, to computers, to leadership training.” stated Berning.

Cargill is an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial and industrial products with some 101,000 employees in 59 countries. Their facility located in Freedom, Oklahoma is a producer of solar salt. The Freedom facility employs just under 30.

“Not only is Cargill an invaluable partner in Business and Industry Services, they have become an invaluable partner to Northwest Technology Center by contributing in several aspects of our daytime and evening adult programs.” stated Guy Forell, Business and Industry Services Director at Northwest Technology Center. “ Northwest Technology Center has provided all types of training to Cargill in various areas of computer training and safety training. Monthly training is provided by Northwest Technology Center to the Cargill Salt Emergency Response Team. The organization has also participated in Achieve Global Leadership Training.”

Ewbank Recognized With Friends of Northwest Tech Honor

Garen Ewbank was honored as the recipient of the 2004 “Friends of Northwest Tech” Award given by Northwest Technology Center at Fairview . The award was presented at Northwest Technology Center 's annual Awards Assembly. Ewbank selected by the Technology Center 's faculty and staff.

General comments about Ewbank included: “Garen continues work with our business and industry services and serves on our school's foundation board. He is a great supporter of Northwest Technology Center .”

The “Friends of Northwest Tech” Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the instructors, students and staff of Northwest Technology Center . The award is presented annually to deserving recipients.

Ewbank was also selected as an honorary member of the Northwest Technology Center chapter of the National Technical Honor Society for his efforts on behalf of the Technology Center .

Ewbank and his wife, Vicki, live in Fairview . They have two sons. Andrew (Drew), who is attending law school at OCU. Dax is President of IO-2 Services, Inc., a provider of fixed wireless services. Ewbank is the chairman IO-2 Services, Inc. He is a graduate of Fairview High School and Oklahoma State University , with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management. He is a member and trustee of the First Baptist Church of Fairview, OK church and is a member and director of the Fairview Chamber of Commerce and a Trustee of MAGB Senior Services, Inc. serving northwestern Oklahoma senior citizens.

Balenti Receives “Friends of Guidance” Award

Mike Balenti, retired educator from the Alva Public School system and currently Woods County Deputy Sheriff was recognized by the Guidance Division of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Educators with the “Friends of Guidance” Award.

Balenti was presented with the award at Northwest Technology Center by Dwight Hughes, Assistant Superintendent and Karen Koehn, Guidance Counselor.

Balenti was nominated for the honor by Koehn. “Balenti retired after almost 30 years as an educator. After his retirement, he became the School Resource Officer for Woods County.” stated Koehn. “His support of Northwest Technology Center and Alva is evident in the passion he shows in his work, but also with the way he works with the schools and the kids.”

Balenti has been the Woods County Deputy Sheriff for the past eight years. Balenti taught Biology and Human Physiology at Alva High School. He and his wife, Sarah Jane have two sons and nine grandchildren.

Fairview Company Named CareerTech Partner For Progress

Bramco, Inc. of Fairview was honored for its contributions to the development, promotion, and progress of Oklahoma's technology center system during the 2003 Career and Technology Education Summer Conference held Aug. 4- 6 at the Tulsa Convention Center.

Accepting the Oklahoma Association of Technology Centers' (OATC) Partners for Progress Award for were Marvin Martens, Jeanette Martens and Marva Wohlgemuth. The company was nominated for the honor by Northwest Technology Center.

The Partners for Progress Award recognizes businesses and industries which have demonstrated their commitment to CareerTech education in a variety of ways including financial support, cooperative programs, community involvement and student scholarships, said John Matlock, OATC president.

Freelin Roberts, Superintendent, said that Bramco has been a great supporter of Northwest Technology Center and of career and technology education. Marvin has served on our Board of Education and Marva has served on our Foundation Board. Bramco is truly a partner in education.

Bramco, Inc. was founded in 1986 by Marvin Martens. Martens, a 28 year veteran of manufacturing received the patent for the Bale Hauling Bumper in 1989. He formed a five state dealer network to distribute his product.

Bramco currently employs 13 people in the Fairview area. Martens’ daughter, Marva Wohlgemuth manages Bramco’s office. Jeanette Martens recently closed her clothing boutique and now works part-time at Bramco.

Bramco’s current projects include an exclusive production contract on a Seven Yard Elevating Scraper. The scraper was designed in-house by Davis Precision Design Group of Fairview. The scraper will be marketed through a distributor network. It is currently being refined and tested by Bramco staff and this month the scraper will be traveling to Dumas, Texas for its first trade show. The scraper has a variety of construction and agricultural uses.

Bramco also has a patent pending on a dolly which can be used in conjunction with the scraper, a full size tractor or a power unit. Other current Bramco projects include agricultural products, Bale Hauling Bumpers, flat beds for three-quarter ton and larger trucks and several oil field projects.

Bramco has participated in several training seminars with Northwest Technology Center over the past year to fulfill a Training for Industry Program (TIPS) contract. This training was provided at no cost to Bramco. Trainings include computer training, supervisory and management training and several types of manufacturing training.

Plane Plastics and Northwest Tech Receive Partners in Progress Award

At the August 2002 Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Educators Summer Conference, Northwest Technology Center received a Partners in Progress award for their work with Plane Plastics of Alva. The school provided safety training and leadership training for Plane Plastics. In return local plant manager, Scott Brown, helped the school with legislative issues at the state capitol. Jeff Henderson of the Plane Plastics E-Commerce Department served on the local advisory committee for the E-Commerce and Web Services program. Plane Plastics also provided on-the-job training for several E-Commerce students.