CSM gives ‘Tip of the Hat’ to trades training
‘There has never been a better time to be in the trades,’ says CSM official
Sixty-six new students were welcomed to the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Regional Hughesville Campus, Center for Trades and Energy Training (CTET) this month with a “Tip of the Hat” reception in the center’s CORE construction lab, according to a news release.
The tradesmen and tradeswomen, considered ‘first-year’ skilled trade students, are starting CORE construction, Part 1 HVAC or Part 1 welding classes in pursuit of certifications.
“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate that you have chosen the College of Southern Maryland and our Center for Trades and Energy Training for your career preparation,” CSM President Maureen Murphy told the crowd before handing out ball caps and cake to the attendees. “The world as we know it, would not exist without your expertise.”
Murphy shared a report from the National Center for Construction Education and Research that described the nation’s critical need to revitalize the construction industry. “The backbone of our society rests on the craft professionals who build our hospitals and schools, wire electricity within our homes and bring us indoor plumbing,” she quoted.
“There has never been a better time to be in the trades,” echoed Dan Mosser, CSM vice president of continuing education and workforce development. “The nationwide shortage of skilled craft professionals — carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC technicians and all the trades — exceed 1.5 million positions. Today, skilled trades professionals — craft workers and journeymen alike — earn on average $9,835 more annually than the four-year degree graduate.”
The 30,000-square-foot CTET, the first building on the Regional Hughes-
ville Campus, provides residents direct access to specialized training in career fields that have substantial growth potential including welding, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and core carpentry skills, according to the release.
The “Tip of the Hat” welcome reception capped off a week of celebrations across CSM’s campuses as the institution marks its 60th anniversary during 2018 and its rich history supporting Southern Maryland’s residents and economic development.
“We are your community college and we see this 60th milestone as being one for everyone in Southern Maryland to share in celebration,” Murphy in th release. “The most powerful things happening at community colleges are that entire families are being changed forever and the opportunities just open up.”
Such is the case for firstyear skilled trade student Roy Naraine, 65, of Waldorf. After finishing his master’s degree in human resources and management from Webster University last spring thanks to the GI Bill, the retired U.S. Navy master chief with 30 years of active duty said he decided to follow in his two sons’ footsteps by attending classes at CSM this semester.
Naraine’s son Shawn completed the CSM pre-engineering program through the Southern Maryland Engineering Partnership (SMD-E) with the Naval Air Warfare Center and the University of Maryland at College Park. Shawn finished a four-year engineering degree in Southern Maryland by completing his first two years of college at CSM and then transferring to the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering located at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center to complete his final two years of studies. He is now employed with U.S. Naval Air Systems Command.
Naraine’s son Jonathan, a Marine veteran, also attended CSM and received his associate’s degree in criminal justice before transferring to the University of Maryland to earn his bachelor’s in the same field.
“This is a lot of fun, and this class keeps me young,” laughed Naraine. “I go to school with my neighbor’s kids!”
The new students welcomed this semester to CTET’s programs from Charles County are: Isaiah Alston, Angela Barnes, Thomas Berry, Stephen Brown, Bailee Campbell, Derrick Cunningham, Brelin Elliott, Eric Garcia Sanchez, Leonard Gary, Tyler Getgen, Carolyn Gillespie, Marcel Hammond, Jordan Hammonds, Jahnathian Harrison, Matthew Harrison, Cameron Hogue, Keyshaun Jones, Marquel Jones, Carroll Laws, Clifford Levins, James Mason, Keith Moss, Randall Myers, Roy Naraine, Cole Pepin, Kelvin Proctor, Charles Richardson, Aminatta Sesay, Walter Shaffer, Tyler Shotwell, Ryan Tamayo, Rico Thomas and Jacob Winkler.
The 74-acre Regional Hughesville Campus provides offerings and programs to serve the entire region. The master plan for the regional campus, as designed and presented by Grimm and Parker Architects, includes five phases of growth. Learn more about CSM’s Regional Hughesville Campus online at https://www.csmd. edu/about/locations/regional-campus/.