Two years after Harvey, Cornyn tours DMC’s program helping to rebuild Coastal Bend
Article by: Contributed
Two years after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) visited with students and leadership from Del Mar College’s (DMC) Rebuild Texas Carpentry Skills Training Program.
On Aug. 30, the senator toured the program’s newest location at the College’s West Campus to learn how it is helping to develop a workforce pipeline to rebuild the Coastal Bend region. He was joined by DMC President Mark Escamilla, Ph.D.; DMC Board of Regents Chair Carol Scott; Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb; and Rockport Mayor Patrick Rios.
Through the free, 10-week program, students receive instruction on how to read blueprints, use construction tools and, ultimately, build a mini-home to demonstrate their construction aptitude. Upon completion, students receive Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification and are referred to local contractors to help rebuild areas damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
The program was established by the Rebuild Texas Fund, a collaborative project of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the OneStar Foundation. The program currently has three campus locations: Rockport, Ingleside and Corpus Christi.
Sen. Cornyn toured students’ workshop stations to see firsthand the skills that are helping graduates rebuild the region, talked with students and program leaders about what makes the program successful, and concluded with a joint press conference.
Classes at the program’s three locations are filled to capacity, and program administrators anticipate adding two more locations in January 2020 in Sinton and Refugio. More than 400 registrants are currently on the waiting list.
For more information about the program, call (361) 698-2122 or go to
www.delmar.edu/continuing-education/carpentry_training_program.html.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.