Penny Drive Winner BST

The Penny Drive raised a total of $508.67 for Student Senate

Winners:

1st Place: BST (Business Systems Technology) with a total points of 104.51 raising $212.63.

2nd Place: Machine Tool with a total points of 69.51 raising $100.71

A special Thank You goes out to all who donated and all who counted

 

Outstanding Staff Nomination

Sue Berry, Student Records Coordinator, was nominated and recognized in the top 5 for the Shining Star Outstanding Staff Award at this year's ATEA (American Technical Education Association) conference held in Chattanooga last week. 

Sue received her diploma in the Business Systems Technology Program in 1997.  She has been employed with the McKenzie TTC for about 14 years.  She would like everyone to know that she truly enjoys her job and working with all the staff and students. 

 

L to R: John Penn Ridgeway, Assistant Director; Sue Berry, Student Records Coordinator and

            Dr. Brad White, Director

 



 McKenzie Tennessee Technology Staff attending the ATEA Conference in Chattanooga

"Womanless" Beauty Review

Skills USA sponsored the McKenzie TTC Womanless Beauty Review held Friday, March 15th.  Twelve contestants participated raising a total of $200. 

 

The results are below (L to R): Matthew Frizzell- 2nd maid, Jonathan Cozart-4th maid, Tony Stroud-1st maid, Ricco Dunlap-3rd maid and Hunter Hill-Queen

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Mom and "Daughter"

Joey Pickard (HVAC) elected as Reporter, Skills USA State Officer

 

Tennessee Postsecondary State Officers (pictured L to R): Treasure Joyce Nelson- TTC Ripley; Vice-President Kristina Evans- TTC Knoxville; Secretary Misty Smith - TTC Chattanooga; Reporter Joey Pickard- TTC McKenzie; President Nathan Mortimer- TTC Hohenwald; Parliamentarian Tommy Hatton- TTC Chattanooga; and Sargent at Arms Tony Hamblin- TTC Oneida.

 

Tennessee Technology Center SkillsUSA State Officers Train with Leaders of State Government

 Tennessee Technology Center (TTC) students elected to serve as SkillsUSA State Officers attended officer training on January 28 & 29, 2013 at the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Central office in Nashville, Tennessee.  While at training the state officers and their advisors toured the State Capital Building, met with the chairs of the Senate and House Education Committees, and attended Governor Haslam’s state-of-the-state address.  During their legislative visits, students  shared the value of their education; the value of public career and technical education to their respective communities; the quality of their education and training; their occupational plans; and, the benefits of their participation in SkillsUSA. They explained that today's workplace requires people with leadership, teamwork and communication skills to participate in high-quality systems. SkillsUSA has been successful in developing these skills in students of all ages and backgrounds.

 

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving more than 300,000 high school and college students and professional members who are enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations.  It has the active support of over 1,100  corporations,  trade associations, businesses, and labor unions at the national level. Student membership in SkillsUSA offers leadership, citizenship and character development programs and activities to complement skill training. Its programs help students prepare to go to work and on to further education. SkillsUSA emphasizes respect or the dignity of work, high standards in trade ethics,  workmanship, scholarship and safety. It promotes understanding of the free enterprise system and encourages the development of patriotism through democratic practices in local chapters.

 

Automotive Class works on diesel

Pictured (l to r): Jason Warren, Dan Townsend (instructor), Kyle Noles, Joe Parkin, Sam Rogers & Cody Scronce
Due to repeated industry requests, TTC-McKenzie’s Automotive Technology Program has introduced Diesel Repair and Diagnosis as a working part of their studies.

They are currently working on a 1999 F550 Super Duty Ford / 7.3L diesel. 

Students diagnosed the “engine noise” complaint, removed the cab to access the engine and have begun a minor overhaul of the engine.

TTC McKenzie Helps Install Solar on McKenzie Banner

Attached is a story that ran in the McKenzie Banner, and explains the Green Electronics class participation in the install of solar on the Banner building.

Solar panels are now generating electricity in downtown McKenzie. Atop the building of McKenzie’s oldest industry, the 10Kilowatt array, consisting of 42 solar panels, began generating “green” electricity on December 28 at 9:00 a.m.

Electricity generated from the panels runs through an electrical meter and then connects to the grid of Carroll County Electric, where it is distributed as needed throughout the grid.  While the panels sit atop the roof of The Banner at 3 Banner Row, the electric is not necessarily consumed at The Banner, which is connected to a three-phase system of the CCED while the solar panels generate single phase..   If power is terminated to the electrical grid, the panels temporarily cease operating and, likewise,  the power at the newspaper office is terminated until power is restored to Carroll County’s electrical system.

Students enrolled in the Electronics and Green Technology class at the Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie installed the panels last week at The McKenzie Banner.  They assisted in the planning, design and installation of the system. Their work involved calculating the angle of the fixed-position panels to achieve the most exposure to sunlight. The lightweight panels also had to properly secure because the surface area can act as a wing and develop lift during high winds.

The students at TTC placed a second meter base on the side of the building. Carroll County Electric will read both meters – one for consumption inside the building to operate printing presses, folders, computers, and environmental systems.  The second meter measures the amount of electricity generated by the panels and placed back on the grid.

The McKenzie Banner purchased the panels, electrical inverters, and mounting hardware from Mainstream Green Solutions in Lexington. The Sharp brand panels were manufactured in Memphis. All electrical supplies were purchased from Power Supply in McKenzie.

According to Mainsteam Green, “due to a combination of TVA’s Generation Partner Program and the 30% federal tax credit incentive, solar gives a steady return on investment that beats Bank CD   and annuity rates. It can also give you a measure of “insurance” against future electric rate increases by selling your solar generation back to TVA at prices currently more than double what you pay for your incoming power. As the power rates go up, so does your solar credit. TVA contracts for a premium payment for 10 years. Many people want to have “zero” electric bill, and in most cases going off-grid isn’t the right financial choice. A “zero” electric bill is much easier to achieve with TVA’s program, as you only have to generate about half of your power usage to have a credit equal to your usage charges. Some of our clients receive checks every month, quarter, or year for the power they’ve sold to TVA in excess of their billed usage. As a general rule, you can expect to receive an average $25/month electric bill credit for every Kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed.”

The Banner is the first commercial business in McKenzie with a solar installation. Other arrays include one at the Ray and Linda Morris Science Building on the Bethel University campus, and a small array at the Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie. Both installations are supplemented with small wind turbine generators.

Ryan Drewry of Carroll County Electric said there are five active solar systems connected to CCED’s grid.  The solar customer is credited each month for solar generation. Depending on the size of the grid, there are months, such as in the longer daylight hours of the summer, in which the customer may generate more electricity than consumed. If the customer has a credit balance on December 31, then the customer will receive a check in January from Carroll County Electric for that amount.

For the year 2013, approved solar systems built and completed in that year are eligible to receive nine cents above the retail rate as a premium for electricity generated by the array. That rate is effective for the first 10 years, said Drewry. The next 10 years, the customer will receive the retail rate per kilowatt-hour.

The Banner was approved for a higher rate of 12 cents above the retail rate per kilowatt-hour for completing the system prior to December 31, 2012.  That rate is effective for the first 10 years of the contract.

Bruce Moore, instructor of the Electronics and Green Technology, explained that the students get real-world experience in the installation of the solar array. On this installation, they learned the challenges of working in both moderate and frigid weather, including a day when ice had to be swept from the roof prior to working.  They also learned about a new installation system that was implemented with the McKenzie install. The students also installed an array in downtown Medina and a small array at a daycare in Milan.

Students participating in the install were: Joseph Redmon, Terry Campbell, Mark Baucom, Joseph Thompson, Gary Dueland, Jimmy Tosh, Blake Roberson, Jason Wylie, Tyler Dunning, and instructor Bruce Moore, plus Mainstream representative Scott Herndon and his son.

Joel Washburn, managing editor of The McKenzie Banner, said the solar system would generate on average about $250 monthly in revenue. That compares to the $300 annually the equivalent investment was earning in a money market account.  Additionally, the business gains the benefit of depreciation, $1,000 incentive from the electric company, and tax credits from the federal government.  TVA provides a premium rate from “green” production. The pay back is five to eight years, depending on the number of sunny days and what tax rates Congress set.

The Banner’s panels are only visible from ground level where the CSX railroad track, Main Street, and Walnut Avenue intercept.

 

Skills USA Meets with Mayor Crider

The local Skills USA Chapter met with Milan Mayor Chris Crider on November 27th.  The group highlighted the importance of Technical Education in the area and the value of the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Scholarship.