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Acclaim and a Shame for Nov. 2, 2009
Published November 2, 2009
Brazosport College BASF Center offers students’ vital real-world experience
The new BASF Center for Process Technology at Brazosport College will provide cutting-edge education and training for industrial careers, college officials say.
BASF and Brazosport College officials were joined by area dignitaries Oct. 21 for the dedication of the $3.9 million facility for study in the petrochemical, energy and nuclear fields.
“World-class education is a must,” said Art Colwell, BASF vice president and general manager of the company’s Freeport site. This center — along with other parts of the college master plan such as the Dow Academic Center and the Byron and Sandra Sadler Health Professions and Science complex — certainly will help provide just that.
Construction on the building began last year. Private donations, along with a $70 million bond approved in 2007, funded the project. The building provides classrooms and hands-on areas for students studying instrumentation, chemical technology and nuclear power technology.
“It’s going to be extremely beneficial to the community and industry,” said Jerry Hinojosa, chairman of the Brazosport College board of regents.
Gary Hicks, Brazosport College physical sciences and process technologies division chairman, said the BASF Center will put students in a real-world job environment.
It will benefit students looking for careers in industry, as well as companies needing well-trained workers.
“The foundation of growth we want in 10 years is the education we offer today,” Colwell said.
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State grants to bolster industrial training
Brazosport College has additional good news when it comes to industrial training.
The college recently dedicated its new $3.9 million BASF center for petrochemical, energy and nuclear studies.
In addition, Brazosport College has received almost $1 million through a pair of grants that will create or upgrade 197 jobs at local industrial sites. The money comes from the Texas Workforce Commission and its Skills Development Fund.
About $812,000 will be used to purchase equipment and create coursework to bolster skills of 94 currently employed BASF, Dow Chemical Co. and Huntsman EA Holdings precision instrument and equipment repairers. A second grant of about $143,000 will similarly be used for 103 operators and trade workers at ConocoPhillips.
Anne Bartlett, Center for Business and Industry Training director, said about $300,000 from the two grants will go toward purchasing new equipment.
“This will provide the kinds of skills training that we believe is necessary for Texas and the country to move forward,” said Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Paukins. “The ultimate recipient of it is the people who are being trained.
“This is a critical industry area in Texas,” he said.
“We’re an energy-driven state; the petrochemical industry is very critical to our state and the community college in Brazosport does a good job in terms of providing people with the kinds of skills they need.”
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County farmer deserving of distinguished honor
Longtime Brazoria County farmer Leroy Bieri recently received the 2009 Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Alumni award, a well-deserved honor for the proud Aggie.
Bieri has operated and toiled on his family’s Bieri Farms since 1958, harvesting rice, milo, soybeans, cattle and crawfish. After graduating from college, Bieri started in the farming business with his dad, Edwin, and now runs the farm with the assistance of his son, Stewart.
Leroy Bieri said he was thrilled to receive the honor from A&M.
“It was a great award and a great honor,” he said. “It’s something that I will cherish the rest of my life. It’s a dream come true, but I personally haven’t done anything.
It’s a family affair. We’re farmers. We’re all involved.”
Bieri Farms includes a farm and ranch with land at various parts of the county, but its headquarters are in Angleton.
Traci LaChance, a family friend and manager at Ricetec, nominated Bieri for what he called all the right reasons. “Mr. Bieri and Bieri farms represent production agriculture in every sense of the words,” LaChance told The Facts. “They’re diversified, third-generation farmers and ranchers who excel at everything they touch. They’ve been professional and productive at everything they do.”
All hats should be tipped to Bieri not only for his award and for being a successful local businessman and family farmer, but also for his civic involvement in the community.
Bieri has served as president of the Greater Angleton Chamber of Commerce and president of the Angleton ISD school board.
He’s been president of the Brazoria County Fair junior livestock auction, and spent two years in the U.S. Army.
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