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Bechtel Parsons Bluegrass gives $100,000 to Madison County Ignite Academy for welding and robotics
Summary
Bechtel Parsons Bluegrass announced a $100,000 donation to support welding and robotics at Ignite Academy (Ignite North in Richmond and Ignite South in Berea). District leaders noted the company has given more than $200,000 since 2008 and said the funds will back career and technical education and workforce training.
Bechtel Parsons Bluegrass announced a $100,000 donation Friday to support welding technology and robotics programs at Ignite Academy—s Ignite North campus in Richmond and Ignite South in Berea, Madison County Schools officials said.
David Gillum, superintendent of Madison County Schools, introduced the presentation and noted the joint venture has been a longtime partner for the district. "Since 2008, Bechtel Parsons Bluegrass has given over $200,000 back into Madison County Schools in the form of classroom grants," Gillum said, adding that he believes that equates to "about $13,000 a year." The funds, district officials said, have supported classroom projects focused on engineering, mathematics and career and technical education.
The company—s project manager at the Bluegrass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant, Joe Curcio, said the joint venture was selected by the Department of Defense to design, build, operate and close the facility that destroyed the chemical weapons stockpile at the Bluegrass Army Depot. Curcio said the final phases of the work are expected to continue "another three to four years." He described the company—s history of local support and formally announced the $100,000 gift: "This donation will help Madison County students acquire new and valuable skills as they pursue careers in construction and other industries."
Jacob Summers, a second-year welding student at Ignite, described how materials and community support have affected instruction and student outcomes: "Without the materials and without the resources, we're not able to learn and gain hands on experience, which does affect us in the future if we wish to pursue these careers after graduation." District leaders said a portion of past funds also went to scholarships for Madison Central and Madison Southern graduates.
The donation is intended to support hands-on training in welding and robotics at Ignite Academy campuses and to help develop a local workforce for construction and related industries. The company presented the check to Madison County Schools during the event; hosts offered attendees tours of company programs and facilities following the presentation.
— Reporting by Madison County Schools event attendees; statements are drawn from speakers at the presentation as recorded in the district transcript.
