Piedmont Tech BCT Program Wins Award

Piedmont Technical College’s building construction technology program recently won the 2015 Service Learning Award presented by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The program was honored for their work on a renovation project at the Ninety Six National Historical Site, locally known as Star Fort.

“We are extremely proud of our students,” said David Kibler, interim dean of engineering and industrial technologies at PTC. “It was a great opportunity for the students to work collaboratively with the community.”

The honor was presented during the 14th annual Service Learning Awards ceremony in Columbia. One project was recognized for the four-year public institutions, the four-year private institutions and the two-year technical colleges out of 14 programs who were nominated for the award.

The project was the renovation and restoration of the historic cabin at the Ninety Six National Historical Site. The cabin, built in 1780, had several areas of disrepair on the front porch and beck deck. The BCT students built a sturdy base for the porch and deck and then replaced the existing original wood to the front porch, which helped to maintain the historic value of the cabin while providing a lasting foundation. The National Park Service provided all of the materials and the BCT students provided the labor which gave them hands-on experience with renovation and restoration.

“The project fit in perfectly with what we were teaching at the time, which was basic framing and estimating materials,” said Bobby Roche, BCT program director. “All the techniques they were learning they used for the project.”

The cabin project was a continuation of the collaboration between the BCT program and the Ninety Six National Historical Site. In the fall of 2008, the students replaced the footbridge along the mile-long walking trail at the historic Island Ford Road, bringing it up to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) specifications. Materials used included “sustainable lumber,” created by recycling plastic containers and then converting them into dimensional plastic lumber.

“Projects such as the one completed by Piedmont Tech’s Building Construction Technology program clearly show how committed our faculty and students are when it comes to giving back to our community,” said Dr. Jack Bagwell, vice president for academic affairs at Piedmont Technical College. “Not only did this project provide our students with the hands-on experience they’ll need to succeed in their career, it allowed them the opportunity to revitalize a piece of history that will be enjoyed by people from across the country as they stop to visit the Ninety Six Historic Site.”

Photo Caption: Piedmont Technical College’s building construction technology program recently won the 2015 Service Learning Award presented by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Pictured are, from left: Hood Temple, CHE commissioner; Dr. Jack Bagwell, PTC vice president for academic affairs; Tara Lindley, BCT instructor; Bobby Roche, BCT program director; Carl Ouzts, BCT student from North Augusta; Savoeun Lun, BCT student from Mountville; and David Kibler, interim dean of engineering and industrial technologies.