HCI Steel Building Systems, Inc. of Arlington, a BlueScope Steel Co., has donated 30,000 pounds of steel to Everett Community College’s welding and fabrication program. The steel, valued at more than $20,000, will be used for hands-on training by 260 EvCC students working to earn a degree or certificate.
“HCI is making an investment in our students’ futures, and in our region’s future, by providing materials to train the next generation of highly skilled metal workers,” EvCC welding instructor Dan Minzel said. “We are very grateful for their partnership and strong support for the college students in our community.”
Enrollment in EvCC’s welding and fabrication program has doubled during the past four years, Minzel said. Students are trained to fit and fabricate metal from start to finish – one of the only programs in the state that teaches heavy plate fabrication, pipe fitting, sheet metal fabrication and use of the computer-operated CNC plasma cutter in a single program.
HCI Steel Building Systems, Inc., which manufactures pre-engineered steel buildings, such as the new Seahawks Lake Washington training facility, is undergoing a major expansion and needs skilled employees, said HCI plant superintendent Buzz Tompkins. The company currently employs at least a dozen EvCC graduates out of its 130 employees in Arlington. HCI was purchased by BlueScope Steel, an international company, in November 2007. The company has been located in Arlington for more than 20 years.
“One of HCI’s values is the ongoing support of education in our community,” Tompkins said. “The college has partnered with us by seeking our feedback about the skills we need as a company, and we want to do our part to contribute to student success.”
For more information about making a donation of equipment or materials, call the Everett Community College Foundation at 425-388-9948.
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