Future Technicians

Featherstone’s students should be proud of the progress they have made so far. First, some of the donated equipment has been temporarily hooked up, and the students have started to learn how to wire the units and some basic principles of servicing.

But their real accomplishment came when teaming up with the construction trade department at the campus. While the construction students built a small house inside the school, Featherstone’s students helped to install the air conditioning and heating system, including all the ductwork and the thermostat wiring.

Featherstone said that a few students have expressed interest in learning more about HVAC after they graduate. One student in particular is looking into HVAC courses at Oakland Community College (OCC) in order to further his education.

Featherstone started setting up an articulation agreement with OCC for the students he will get next year. Students who are able to complete certain portions of the HVAC program at the Oakland Technical Center will receive college credits, which can be transferred over to OCC.

And there is a chance that Featherstone will have a good number of students to recruit for the HVAC program. According to Bonnie Crowson, dean for the Royal Oak campus, the morning and afternoon classes within the construction cluster are close to being filled up.

The students who enter the construction cluster will then spend a week within the separate portions of the construction trades, including electrical, building construction, and HVAC.

More Donations

So far the new program has all that it needs to make sure that students get the education and hands-on learning necessary to become successful in the HVAC trade. But a few more manufacturers have continued to donate equipment for Featherstone’s program.

Testo Inc. provided Featherstone with a wide variety of testing tools free of charge. Tools supplied include a CO monitor, test equipment case, manometer, pressure meter, velocity stick, gas detectors, infrared thermometers, and several other items.

ECR International, which provided a large donation several months ago, made another donation at the end of April. The manufacturer provided several different tonnages of horizontal, cased, and uncased coils. ECR International also provided a 2-1/2-ton condensing unit, a 4-ton condensing unit, and a 5-ton condensing unit.

Effical International, a company located in nearby Lake Orion, Mich., donated four barometric dampers and two motorized dampers for use in the classroom. Finally, Commercial/Industrial Heating Systems, located in nearby Madison Heights, Mich., came through with a 20-inch radiant tube heater with troubleshooting manuals.

Featherstone is hoping to obtain a couple of rooftop units and refrigeration units in order to give his students a more well-rounded HVAC education. But Featherstone said he is more than satisfied with the support he has received from the industry, and he is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming school year.

Publication date: 06/23/2003