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The HutchCC theater crew prepares themselves for a comedy wich is their second play of the semester “The importance of being Earnest”
HutchCC men’s basketball team, defending national champions, opened its season with a win against Friends University on Wednesday
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The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
November 3, 2017
www.Collegianweb.com
Vol. 59 Issue 8
Welding technology program stays active By Merissa Anderson Collegian Editor
The Hutchinson Community College Welding Technology Program is making strides to provide students with the best welding education possible to prepare them for their careers in an ever-growing industry. The program, either a one-year or two-year depending on a student’s preference, is coordinated and instructed by Greg Siepert, who is in his ninth year of teaching at HutchCC. Welding Processes “If a student chooses a one-year certificate, then they may start with no or little background so from day one they come in a they work through the processes,” Siepert said. “They will spend eight weeks in gasmetal-arc welding, eight weeks in gas-tungsten-arc welding, and eight weeks in shielded arc welding, and then they spend eight weeks in what we call cutting processes.” During their time in the program, as they learn the different types of welds, the students will create their welds and then test the strength and quality by the ‘bend’ test. The bend test uses a high power machine to subject the welded metal to a set amount of pressure that the weld must stand up to. These four sections of the first-year welding program will allow the student to graduate their Cert A, which is the first
round of certification for being a welder but is not an associate’s degree. In order to receive an Associate in Applied Sciences with Welding Technology, the student must take a second year of classes, as explained by second year welding student, Ty Stallbaumer. Finding a Career “I graduated in May of 2017 with my Cert A in Welding Technology, so 24 credit hours,” Stallbaumer said. “If you come to Hutch and get the associate, then more than likely you’re going to get promoted over the other guy. Hutch is set up to where you can do one year and be out if you want, but I recommend the twoyear program.” Stallbaumer’s interest in welding began in high school when he would repair the welds on chairs and desks that would break throughout the school year. He later got a job with a commercial mechanical company where he did smaller welding projects before he was fully certified. “All the people I know are going for bachelor’s degrees, and there’s no jobs for them but there’s jobs for us,” Stallbaumer said. Additionally, over the summer before entering his second year of the welding program he worked with Tulsa Oilery, where he worked 60 hours a week with 20 hours overtime and hopes to land a future career with them.
“My friends seeking bachelor degrees say it’s not fair but the tides have turned,” Stallbaumer said.
ill or have minor injuries. They prefer that students call in and make appointments instead of just walking in. But do advertise that they will be in the office for walk-ins but they leave after the day’s appointments. Jessika Ratzloff Health Center Administrator, stated that the student health services prefer appointments to
be made to better serve their patients. “If a person walks in, we do our best to see them, but if other appointments are scheduled, then the walk in will be scheduled to come back for an appointment.” Ratzloff said. It’s understandable that they can’t do certain things such as surgeries and pre-
“Everybody
used to go to school and get a degree and now everybody is so educated that they don’t have the jobs for them and they need technical programs like ours.” Siepert also mentioned how every welding program in Kansas is constantly searching for more students interested in welding due the need for welders in the industry. “The welding industry as a whole is growing big time,” Siepert said. “There are a lot of careers available in welding, because there are a lot of manufacturing that is happening. Any of the skill trades, not just welding, are running out of people to fill the jobs because the baby boomer population is retiring.” If the students are willing to move for the career, then they are almost certain to find a well-paying welding job after graduation. “Every student that I had that graduated last May left with a job,” Siepert said. See Welding, Page 4
Merissa Anderson/Collegian Editor Ty Stallbaumer, second year welding student, demonstrates a weld. Stallbaumer already has a job lined up after graduation and is an advocate for more students pursuing carees and degrees in technical fields due to the growing industry.
Student Health Services not servicing students By Emma Cox Campus Editor
As a part of enrollment fees, Hutchinson Community College students have access to the Hutchinson Area Student Health Services, located north of campus at 516 E. 14th Street. The student health center is there to provide services for students who fall
Merissa Anderson/Collegian Editor The Hutchinson Area Student Health Services is located on 516 E. 14th Street and they have recently changed their business hours after some student confusion.
scribe medications to care for HutchCC students but it has been noticed by some students that they could do more for minor medical concerns. Due to provider availability, the hours of the health center have temporarily changed to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings 8:30 to noon. These hours are posted at the college information desk in Parker Student Union but were not updated during the time that The Collegian attempted to contact them. But even with these new hours, several students including a few of The Collegian staff members, have been having a difficult time communicating with health center
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Sophomore Jack Greenwood, a Collegian staff writer, had a first-hand experience at this a few weeks ago when he got the flu. “I was feeling bad enough that I couldn’t walk straight, so my roommate was with me.” Greenwood said. “We called the health center during their hours but they didn’t answer.” Greenwood left a message and his number in hopes that someone would call him back as soon as possible but nobody ever returned his calls. Greenwood and his roommate ended up going over to the Parker Student Union, where Greenwood and his roommate asked the receptionist if they would be back.
Have you ever used the student health services?
Nov. 4 — Region VI volleyball tournament, 2 p.m. vs. Garden City in Liberal. Nov. 4 —Football vs. Fort Scott, 12 p.m. -3 p.m at Gowans Stadium. Nov. 7 — Dillon Lecture Series speaker Shawn Johnson, 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. in Sports Arena. Nov. 9-10 — “The Importance of Being Earnest” at B.J Warner Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
They were told if they weren’t there by now they wouldn’t be open, and that the health center hasn’t been sticking with their regular hours so they should check back to see if someone was there every so often. Another incident happened to freshman Cassidy Crites, who is also a Collegian staff writer. “I woke up one morning and the top of my eye was swollen the morning of our volleyball tournament in Missouri,” Crites said. She went to the service center and no one was there. Crites even called the building and no one answered. “I ended up going to the trainers at the Sports Arena and showed them my eye to see if they knew what it was,” Crites said.
“I scheduled an appointment once this semester. I went there and they said that the doctors were gone helping in the Houston Hurricane.”
“I know of it, but I have not used the services before because I have never needed to use it before.”
“I’ve heard about them through Orientation and that it’s free, but if I was sick, then I would go home rather than use them.”
“I have not used the Student Health Services before because I live at home and have never needed to use it.”
— Reece Kay, Ashland
— Brittany Bollig, Ellis
— Kyler Sill, Medicine Lodge
— Abbie Gossett, Buhler
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