On Tuesday, the Morgan Community College (MCC) Fort Morgan Campus celebrated a significant landmark at the Dahms-Talton Center for Skilled Trades and Technology. It was a collective effort, with many from the community gathering to share a message and sign their name on the final piece of structural steel beam.
Members of the Dahms-Talton Foundation, Alan Dahms and Kim Prevost, attended the event. Dahms, whose vision and generosity helped make this project possible, said that the planning for the Dahms-Talton Center for Skilled Trades and Technology began four years ago with a $1 million grant.
“It’s marvelous to see the work of many people of Dr. Freed’s family come to fruition. It was a lot of planning, and now you see the actual outcome. Nothing other than your health is more important than education. It changes lives. We are proud to be associated with Dr. Freed and his team,” he said.
Dr. Curt Freed, President of Morgan Community College, said, “Today’s topping-off ceremony marks an important milestone for constructing the Dahms-Talton Center for Skilled Trades and Technology. The ceremony is a long tradition when placing the last piece of structural steel into a new building. It is great to see the structure taking place, and the excitement is growing for the building’s completion this fall. In this case, the signed beam will be visible from inside the building as a reminder of the well-wishes for the building and students served in the future.”
The 5,000-square-foot facility is located on the southeast side of Cottonwood Hall on the MCC campus. It will house the expanding Electromechanical Technology and Industrial Controls programs. Freed talked about a structure similar to the front of the building on Barlow Road, which will leave planning to connect the two buildings in the future. This long-awaited day is one step closer to the projected fall of 2024 opening.
According to the MCC website, The ELMT program uses hands-on learning to teach students about electronics and electrical/mechanical equipment and develops soft skills, like working within a team. Students network with employers throughout the state to learn about future job opportunities and gain internships. The program also prepares students to register as an electrical journeyman applicant with 2,000 hours completed towards the 8,000-hour requirement for licensure through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
