FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2015
For More Information:
ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115
GLENVILLE, WV - Continuing in their tradition of helping students learn in a hands-on environment with the latest tools and technology, the Weyerhaeuser Company has again awarded the ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State College Land Resources Department an equipment grant. The grant was recently used to purchase a log splitter for use by students in the Forestry Club and various Forest Technology courses in the department.
Students in both the club and those enrolled in the Timber Harvesting Techniques course at GSC will use the splitter to gain more field experience. They also plan to use it as a service tool for the local community; the students will salvage diseased, dead, or downed timber on the college forest property and then sell it at a low cost as firewood. The money raised is used by the Forestry Club to go on field trips, participate in learning opportunities, and perform other community service projects.
"I would personally like to thank Weyerhaeuser on behalf of all the ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State College Forestry Club members for the generous grant that allowed the department to purchase the wood splitter. Cutting and selling firewood is the Club’s sole means of fundraising, and with this grant we will be able to excel in the business and extend this service to the community. The splitter works like a dream and makes cutting wood much easier! Again, we thank them for their support!" said Forestry Club President and Forest Technology student Lyndsee Gay.
"This is the fourth year that we have been awarded with this grant. We are fortunate that Weyerhaeuser supports our effort to enhance the field experiences of our students by incorporating advanced technologies in our classes and in promoting community service in the Forest Technology program," said Dr. Rico Gazal, Chair of the GSC Department of Land Resources and Associate Professor of Forestry.
GSC has previously received grants from Weyerhaeuser for the purchase of other forestry tools in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Additionally, foresters Jimmy Jenkins and Clifton Moyers from the Weyerhaeuser mill in Heaters, West Virginia have been featured as guest speakers in several technical courses for the program. Gazal credits Weyerhaeuser and other institutions for helping GSC's program stay on the forefront with cutting-edge forestry tools and equipment for use in lab classes to give students vital hands-on learning experiences.
Students enrolled in the ÏãåúÖ±²¥ State College Land Resources program may choose from concentrations in applied science, business management, criminal justice, environmental science, forest technology, landman technology, and land surveying technology. For more information about the grant and the program, contact Gazal at Rico.Gazal@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6372.