FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC Student Uses Classroom Skills

To Provide Building Rendering

DANVILLE, VA, Dec. 13, 2004 - Justin Powell of Halifax County, a second-year student at Danville

Danville Community College Student Justin Powell, seated, works  on a project with his teacher, James Adkins, Instructor of General Engineering and Drafting and Design.

Community College, has a “can-do” attitude when it comes to school projects. That’s just the attitude Powell presented when he was approached recently to complete a project for local retailer, Ben David Jewelers.

Mark and Leon David, co-owners of Ben David Jewelers, were seeking assistance in preparing a rendering, or drawing of the freestanding store under construction on Mount Cross Road in Danville. When Mark David contacted Rob Huffman, DCC Assistant Professor of Drafting and Design about finding a drafting and design student to handle the project, Huffman knew Powell was a good choice for the job.

“Justin (Powell) had an architectural interest as early as high school and he excelled with our architecture program,” Huffman said. “We felt this project would go far in preparing him for employment in an architecture-related field.”

Powell had the interest and the ability but he still said he was surprised he was selected for the task.

 “I was pretty amazed that a company would go looking for someone like me for this project,” Powell said. “I was surprised that I was picked, especially considering the good skills of so many of my classmates. I felt like Mr. Huffman had real faith in my abilities.”

Powell, a 2003 graduate of Halifax County High School, is a native of the Sutherlin community of Halifax County. He is enrolled in the General Engineering Technology and Computer-Aided Drafting and Design programs and expects to graduate in Spring 2005.

After earning dual enrollment college credits while in high school, Powell was able to move ahead quickly with more advanced classes, and his proficiency at a program called Chief Architect has earned him some distinction from his classmates.

Powell was presented with a proposal showing him three views of the potential building—the front, and left and right sides, including landscaping. Based on the proposal, Powell used the Chief Architect software to create a rendering of the building that could be used by Ben David Jewelers and the design firms involved in the project.

Chief Architect is a professional design and drafting software that is typically used for residential architectural design, allowing for the creation of full working drawings with detailed plans and layouts.

“This software is very valuable to the professionals in this field and proficiency with it is important,” said James Adkins, instructor of general engineering and drafting and design at DCC, and another of Powell’s teachers.

            Mark David said Ben David Jewelers is pleased with Powell’s work.

            “This has been a tremendous project for us,” David said. “We’ve enjoyed working with DCC and Justin. He did a great job.”

            David said Powell’s rendering can be viewed on the company’s website (www. bendavidjewelers.com) as well as on display at the company’s current location in Piedmont Mall in Danville. David said the rendering will also be featured in the company’s television commercials.

            Powell is the son of Anthony and Patricia Powell. He is active with the DCC Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society for community college students. Powell also assists with other drafting projects when presented the opportunity.

            Huffman added that this is good for students to combine their classroom work with real-world projects.

            “There is no substitution for real-world projects in education,” Huffman said. “Justin not only had to learn new techniques with our CAD program but also had to deal with what one may call a client. Learning to deal with people is a hard thing to simulate in education.

             “If students want to excel, they must be willing to put in the time and effort to stand above their peers. Justin has that attitude and is being recognized for it,”  Huffman continued.

            Powell said he chose to attend DCC because he was impressed by the college’s offerings particularly in the field of technology and the affordable tuition.

            “I visited DCC before I graduated from high school and was blown away by the latest technology that was available for the learning process,” he said. “The education I’m receiving is more personalized, and for me, it’s just a good feeling being here.”

            Huffman said the Computer-Aided Drafting and Design and General Engineering Technology programs offer many opportunities for students.

            “Our graduates are prepared to enter a variety of fields. They include drawing, designing, architecture, and surveying. Students outside our curriculum can take an architecture course and design their own house or enroll in the on-line electronic portfolio course,” Huffman added.

            Powell said his career goals include continuing his studies to become an architect and perhaps starting his own business. For now, he says he’s happy and excited to take on other independent jobs.

“This project has been a good opportunity for me, and I’m happy to say that I’ve moved forward to work on others like it,” Powell said. “Students should always take advantage of chances to complete projects like this. It’s in their best interest to look, listen and do the best they can because it will only prove to further their abilities in the end.”