Donation Boosts MCHS Industrial Arts Program
Source: Mascoutah Herald, Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The industrial arts program at Mascoutah High School got a huge boost on Thursday, July 23, when a high end construction plotter/copier was donated to the school by Poettker Construction Company. The machine is capable of being used for computer assisted drawing and printing of blueprints and architectural renderings.
Citing the school’s “great industrial technology department” and the large number of military affiliated students, Chuck Poettker, president of Poettker Construction Company of Breese, arranged the donation of the Oce 9400 construction drawing and design system to the school.
“When my instructor, Surendra Kohka, taught me blue print reading at Southwestern Illinois College, he had no idea that in 30 years I would be in charge of building the Liberal Arts facility on that campus,” Poettker said. “I want Mascoutah High School students to have the same opportunity.”
Poettker, a Bronze Star medal winner and Vietnam veteran said he has always been impressed with graduates of Mascoutah High School he has hired since founding his company in 1980. Poettker said he appreciated that industrial arts technology instructor Kevin Derezotes understood the value of the plotter and its ability to scan, file and make large format copies as teaching aids for students.
“Credit for this piece of equipment must go to graduates of past years who have received their initial training in computer assisted drawing,” Derezotes said. “Some of these young people have gone on to expand the skills and approaches learned in the classroom and have become valuable, trusted employees of Poettker Construction.”
With revenues of over $50 million last year and still growing, Poettker needed a higher capacity machine for their office use. This made available the equipment they donated to Mascoutah High School.
“This is excellent for the students because it is a productive piece of equipment you would not find in many places, not even in many architect’s offices,” said Tom Montgomery of Indox Services of St. Louis who donated his time to install the equipment. “This is an excellent training opportunity which will give students an edge on entering the construction, engineering and design fields.”
“This machine offers students an experience similar to those that can be gained in engineering and construction companies,” Derezotes said. “Mr. Poettker has recognized the quality of our students and, through this gift, hopes to foster continued excellence in our students that will benefit them later in an industry setting. This gift helps the school continue its forward progress and further cements the partnership between industry and education.”
