In five short weeks, students
in the Welding Technology program at Southeast Community College created a
distinct sculpture with a Midwest essence that will become part of the new
Great Plains Culinary Institute.
The bronze “wheat” creation consists
of donated scrap materials. Students designed and created it in the Fabrication
and Repair class. It will be part of the exterior wall of the new Great Plains
Culinary Institute opening in January.
“It brings me great joy to
see the students create something like this and to actually apply their skills
here and to utilize them,” said Mark Hawkins, program co-chair.
Six welding students did the
majority of the work on the bronze sculpture, which involved creating computer designs
and then trying to emulate the wheat stalks and seeds. Some of the detail work was
quite challenging, according to the students.
“It was kind of difficult at
the beginning, a lot of repetition, trying to figure out what looked the best,”
said Cole Andersen of Lincoln.
“I’m glad the wheat seeds
turned out the way they did,” said Curtis Hartshorn of Wahoo. “We went through
nine different prototypes. In the end, it turned out great.”
“We welded each seed, and our
instructor helped us,” said Lebari Abiikor. “It feels amazing, I’m glad to be
part of it.”
SCC President Dr. Paul Illich
came up with the idea for the College’s welding program to create something
decorative for the front of the new culinary space as a way of bringing the
programs together.
“They went well beyond what
was asked,” Illich said, referring to the welding students. “That in itself is
very inspiring. They wanted to make something special. Every faculty, staff and
student that walks by will be inspired by it.”
“All in all it turned out
pretty cool,” said Zach Bohlmeyer of Beatrice. “It will be cool to come back
and look at it in front of the building.”
Josh Waters and Alex Salzman,
both of Lincoln, also contributed to the sculpture.
The Great Plains Culinary
Institute will feature state-of the art kitchen areas for students to train, as
well as a new restaurant that will be open to the public.
SCC’s Welding Technology
program, located on SCC’s Lincoln Campus, has approximately 135 students.