Page 4 - Summer 2014 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

COVER STORY
KACC WELDING PROJECT SPANS SIXTEEN YEARS

By Michael Spangler, Welding Instructor
Kankakee Area Career Center
Boubonnais, Illinois

As an instructor, nothing gives me more satisfaction than to
see students master techniques and produce a finished product
one can be proud to call their own. Over the past 16 years,
students have come and gone, and many have had some part in
the final outcome of our Kankakee Area Career Center Globe
Project. That’s right - 16 years!

Why did it take so long? I have no reason other than no one
put a timeline on this project - not even myself. I’m actually
glad it took so long because so many more students were a
part of this globe. They can look at it and say, “I had a part in
that.” For me, as an instructor, I was able to utilize the project
to share specific skills and develop those students’ talents.

The globe is a symbol of Kankakee Area Regional Vocational
Education System (KARVES) which is the entity overseeing
Career and Technical Education, including the Career Kankakee Area Career Center students are “Preparing for a Global
Center, throughout all of Kankakee County as well as parts Market.”

of Iroquois and Will Counties. The logo for KARVES and
KACC is a globe, with the KARVES Globe motto saying it
best - Preparing for a Global Market - a testament to our
philosophy here at KACC where we are Preparing Students
for Tomorrow!

The globe, that is 14-feet high and 8-feet in diameter, is
constructed primarily of stainless steel. At the top center
of the globe, we were able to fit the words Kankakee Area
Career Center within the outer ring surrounding the globe. I
admit, we ran into a stumbling block when it came to fitting
in other words in the lower half. The little bit of Latin I do
know gave me an idea...What if we came up with something in
Latin which was appropriate and fit in the available space? I
approached Kathy Copper (former Learning Center Tutor)
with this idea. Kathy helped tremendously by researching
various Latin phrases. We concurred on the phrase “IN
OMNIA PARATUS.” A little culture in the welding industry
is a good thing! If you want to know what it means - feel free
to look up the translation!

We’ve had tremendous help and support with this project from
the very start, so I extend my sincere thanks to all the KACC
students, to all the people who believed in us, that some day
this project would come to fruition, including the following:
KACC students also constructed this robot. Chicago Bridge and Iron, who made a donation of various
(Continued on page 5)

4