For more information, contact Darcy Wedel, 620-792-9336.

November 19, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by: Linda Jerke

Barton Community College Automotive Technology students now attend their classes dressed like professionals in new uniform shirts donated by the county’s four new-automobile dealerships, Dove Chevrolet Buick Pontiac Cadillac, Marmies, Manweiler Chevrolet, and Doonan GMC.

Barton’s Automotive Technology Coordinator and Instructor Darcy Wedel said Barton’s Auto Tech program was presenting a classroom unit on work ethics and part of it dealt with dressing as a professional. His idea was to give the students early experience in presenting a professional appearance, but funding was not budgeted for purchasing uniform shirts for the students.

Wedel then approached Darnell Holopirek, executive director of the Barton Community College Foundation, about the prospect of finding the money to make the purchase, explaining that he had already seen the benefits of the new class and the focus of being a professional technician, dressing professionally and gaining the respect of prospective employers and their customers.

Already aware of the opportunities the College provides for hiring Barton graduates, the four dealerships reinforced the importance of dressing professionally by stepping up to donate the shirts, providing two shirts each for the students in the program, and at the same time, promoting their business with their logo on the back of each shirt they donated.

“Their donation allowed Barton to purchase the shirts this academic year instead of waiting,” Holopirek said. “It is so wonderful how business and individual donors always see the value of our educational pursuits.”

Visiting Barton’s Automotive Technology class to take a look at the new shirts they donated are, at left, Rob Dove, owner of Dove Chevrolet Buick Pontiac Cadillac, and Gene Manweiler, co-owner and general manager of Manweiler Chevrolet, Hoisington. At right are Brett Carper, sales associate for Doonan GMC; and Desa Marmie Behr, sales manager for Marmies.

Barton Automotive Technology students display the logos on the backs of their shirts donated by the four Barton County automobile dealerships. Left to right are Felipe Perez, Dylan Spenser, Trey Poncin and Eduardo Valles, all of Great Bend.