Southeast Technical Carpentry Program students put finishing touches on new home

 View photo albums on Facebook

• A house with a view  
• Building custom cabinets
• Breaking ground 

As the school year comes to a close in 2014, Southeast Technical Carpentry Program students and their instructor, Ralph Roemer, are seeing a year's worth of work come to completion as they put the final touches on a new house.

While many college students measure success in terms of a term paper or a final test, these students are proud to have accomplished something extraordinary -- crafting a beautiful home that will be a place for a family to enjoy for decades to come. The newly built home is located in Pickwick Valley, three-fourths of a mile east of the Pickwick mill. The house features three bedrooms, four bathrooms (two full, one 3/4 bath and one 1/2 bath), a large two car garage, a lower single garage/workroom, hardwood floors and a number of other amenities, including vaulted ceilings, a gas fireplace and wrap around deck with scenic valley views. The new owners will move in early in June, 2014.

In the carpentry program, students learn each step of the construction process, from reading a blueprint to building and installing fine custom cabinets. Working in the carpentry lab at Southeast Technical as well as on-site, they gain hands-on experience in a real world environment. Just as they would on a commercial construction site, they work side-by-side with skilled sub-contractors who are hired to grade the construction site, pour concrete, and install plumbing and electrical systems.

One of final projects involved completing the 2014 Carpentry Program house is completing and installing custom cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Roemer and a handful of students are finishing up the final touches a few days after graduation ceremonies have taken place. 

"Building the home and custom cabinets gives students a chance to work with power tools and learn the trade in a practical environment," says Roemer, adding, "The industry is on the rise again and our community needs well trained workers entering the workforce to prepare for the increase."

With a shortage of qualified carpenters in the job market, graduates of Southeast Technical's Carpentry Program find numerous job opportunities. Southeast Technical offers diploma and associate degree programs in carpentry, and also provides certificate programs for carpenters who are seeking additional training. To learn more, visit the Carpentry program page.

2014 Guitar Show on May 13 at Southeast Technical in Red Wing

View our Facebook photo albums:

 Almost 80 newly built instruments to be displayed and played in concerts

Spring is in the air… and you can tell because of the smell of freshly sanded wood in the guitar and violin labs at Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical in Red Wing, where the students in the guitar and violin programs are focused intently on their work as they finish building flattop, archtop and electric guitars as well as mandolins and violins.

Though many of their instruments are still in various stage of assembly, almost of them will be ready to play at this year’s annual Guitar Show on May 13. Almost 80 new hand-crafted custom instruments will be on display. The acoustic guitars and mandolins will be played for the first time on stage by professional area musicians, including Bill Cagley, Sarah Cagley, Phil Heywood, Mark Kreitzer and Dean Harrington.

The Southeast Technical Guitar Show in Red Wing is free and open to the public. Come to enjoy great music and the sights and sounds of a multitude of fine hand-crafted musical instruments built by our talented students.

Southeast Technical Guitar Show
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
1 to 3 p.m.
Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical
Red Wing Campus, 308 Pioneer Road, Red Wing, MN 55066
Admission: Free
Includes concerts on two stages and display of new musical instruments

Southeast Technical Foundation establishes endowment fund in honor of President Jim Johnson

Scholarship funds will help students stay in college and complete education

The Southeast Technical Foundation has established an endowment fund honoring the legacy of President Jim Johnson, who will retire on June 30, 2014.  

The Jim Johnson Legacy Scholarship Fund is designated to help students complete their education. Organizers originally set a goal of raising $25,000, but have since exceeded that goal and are continuing to raise money in Jim's honor.  "After 32 years of dedication, service and leadership, it is with gratitude and honor that we recognize Jim's commitment to higher education by creating this endowment fund in his name," says Chris Schabow, Foundation Director.

Johnson, however, expresses that he doesn't want the fund to be about recognizing his accomplishments - he wants contributors to be aware of the needs of current and future Southeast Technical students, who struggle to complete their education as state support declines, college costs rise, and student loan debt soars. 

"I want to thank all the supporters of the Legacy Fund as the gifts you bring to this drive will have a significant impact on our current and future students.  Over my career at Southeast Tech I have seen countless students drop out of their programs due to lack of funds. Many say they will return after they can raise some money. The sad truth is too many of those students never come back," Jim Johnson says. "A fund like this can help the college retain students who just cannot continue due to finances.  Thank you for being there for Southeast Technical and our students ... your gift counts." 

Donations for the Jim Johnson Legacy Scholarship Fund are welcome, and can be made online at www.southeastmn.one/donate or by mail to: 

Southeast Technical Foundation
Tandeski Center
1200 Storr's Pond Road
Winona, MN 55987

For more information, contact Chris Schabow, 507-453-1423, [email protected].