Ranken and Myrtle E. Walker Trust Partner to Give Students Real World Construction Experience
ST. LOUIS, MO., August 4, 2014 – On August 25, students from the Carpentry and Building Construction Technology Program at Ranken Technical College will begin building a new single-family residence on a vacant residential lot in the Ellendale neighborhood located in the city of St. Louis. This morning, Ranken Technical College staff, faculty and students, Ranken Technical College board members, Myrtle E. Walker Trust representatives gathered at the construction site on Wellington Court for a groundbreaking ceremony.
“This project is the perfect combination of our goals to give our students the very best possible learning environment and to improve the St. Louis community,” said Ranken Technical College President Stan Shoun. “We are very thankful to the Walker Family for their generous donations and support.”
The Myrtle E. Walker Trust generously donated the property and followed up with a $100,000 donation to assist with the construction of the new home. The build will take place as part of the Ranken Community Development Corporation (RCDC) mission to ensure that Ranken’s construction students receive hands-on experience in the building of single-family homes. This non-profit organization has built more than 50 homes to date. Since the fall of 2010, RCDC has participated in ENERGY STAR home construction and inspections in order to benchmark how energy efficient each home is and to allow RCDC students to learn how to continue to build more energy-efficient homes. When completed, the 1200 sq. foot craftsman style home will be for sale by a private real estate firm. The timeline for completion is in Mid-May of 2015. The home will meet or exceed ENERGY STAR 3.1 standards for building performance.
Myrtle E. Walker has been a long-time supporter of the College. Her late husband Earl graduated from Ranken’s welding program in 1941. Together acting as lifetime benefactors of Ranken, Myrtle and Earl contributed $600,000 to Ranken’s campus expansion efforts in 2005. Ranken’s first residence hall was completed in their namesake in 2009, and is capable of housing up to 210 students. Mrs. Walker was a volunteer at Shriner’s Hospital for Children, and one of the “Sewing Ladies” for the hospital. She also served on the Board of Directors for The Magic House St. Louis Children’s Museum for many years. Mrs. Walker is a lifelong Girl Scout, having served in many roles including Troop Leader, Neighborhood Chairperson and Neighborhood Cookie Chairperson.
About Ranken Technical College
With its main campus located in St. Louis, Mo., Ranken Technical College is a private, non-profit institution of higher education. Rich with history, Ranken has provided students with top quality educational programs for more than 100 years. Ranken Technical College’s primary mission is to provide the comprehensive education and training necessary to prepare students for employment and advancement in a variety of technical fields. Throughout its long history as a St. Louis College and trade school, Ranken has been an excellent training and educational center for professionals looking to start or advance in their careers. Ranken Technical College’s success in job placement is well documented, with traditionally 96-98 percent of Ranken graduates finding gainful employment in their chosen field within six months of graduation. Wentzville, Mo. became the site of the College’s second location in spring 2013, offering area students the opportunity to gain a quality technical education without travelling far from home. For more information about Ranken Technical College or Ranken Wentzville, please visit www.ranken.edu.