Daily Journal - Durbin Visits KCC, Applauds Its Program
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By Jon Krenek
Kankakee Community College officials actually bragged to Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin about a student who never finished their industrial technology program. Rather than complete the coursework, the student got hired for $25 an hour at a local company.
"He came back and told us he was amazed," said Timothy Wilhelm, an instructor at KCC. "We had the exact same technology they were using."
The link between community colleges and the workforce is what brought Durbin to KCC on Tuesday. The senator is pushing legislation that would allocate $8 billion to community colleges.
He turned to KCC's alternative tech program as an example of what the funding would support. His description of Wilhelm, the program's founder, came in more colorful terms.
"It's like that 'Dos Equis' commercial," Durbin said. "He's like 'the most interesting man in the world.'"
KCC officials had plenty to show off, and had just as many ideas for spending any federal money that might come their way. KCC President John Avendano said the college is planning an Advanced Technology Center that would house all those programs.
Industrial technology is where the strongest college-to-work potential can be found, according to Durbin. Citing a wide skills gap in Champaign, Durbin said Kraft Foods Group might have trouble filling dozens of maintenance engineering jobs at its plant there. Locally, those types of jobs start at $50,000 per year, Wilhelm said.
Companies such as Keast Electric Inc., of Aroma Park, might also reap the benefits of the legislation. The company became the first local contractor to help add alternative energy at commercial and industrial properties.
"We're getting opportunities that we haven't had before," said Jeff Keast, the company's owner.
Wilhelm said KCC's industrial tech program got a huge boost from federal funding, as did the alternative energy program. Durbin said it was good to see programs that actually lead to jobs.
"What we see here at KCC is an extraordinary program that has produced results again and again," Durbin said. "I think KCC is setting a standard not only for this state, but beyond."
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