WSC Diesel/Automotive Technology received donation
Posted: Apr 30 2010
The Diesel and Automotive Technology programs at Williston State College got a boost April 15 when it received a 2008 Caterpillar 160M Motor Grader, donated by Tractor and Equipment and Caterpillar Inc.
"This motor grader from Tractor and Equipment along with Caterpillar, is the most technologically advanced piece of machinery that Caterpillar has on the market right now," said Chris Egge, instructor of Diesel Technology at WSC. "Everything on that piece is run by electronics. This is very advantageous to our program as everything (in the industry) is moving along that line. It's a good trainer for our students."
On hand for the presentation were representatives of Tractor and Equipment Co. of Williston, T&E headquarters, Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria, Ill., and Murphy Motors, as well as current and former students of both Diesel and Automotive Technology at WSC, Diesel and Automotive Technologies Advisory board members, and our area ND State Legislators.
The equipment received was part of a Workforce Enhancement Grant of $265,000. "The donation (of the motor grader) was a dollar for dollar match through the ND Department of Commerce, under the Workforce Enhancement Council," Egge said.
The grant was presented by North Dakota Governor John Hoeven on April 6. "With the equipment we received from Murphy Motors and Tractor and Equipment along with Caterpillar, we were way over the match needed to receive the funds," Egge said. "With the dollar for dollar match of this equipment it brought the amount of the grant plus the equipment to $610,000."
He added that the cash from the grant will be used to update a lot of the equipment/training units "to match with this new motor grader to match the more technologically advanced equipment that it out there."
The donation of this equipment and the grant monies will be a great benefit for the diesel and automotive technology departments at WSC. "It got us the advanced technology that we need to train incoming new technicians in the field," Egge said. "This got us the most up-to-date equipment to match the industry. I would like to express our great appreciation, especially to Tractor and Equipment, Caterpillar and Murphy Motors for their donations"