FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STUDENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT - April 2008

Josh McDowell

Science/College Transfer

&

Welding Career Studies

Josh McDowell of Danville likes to excel in whatever he undertakes. As the 2007-08 president of Danville Community College’s Student Government Association (SGA), he has been involved in a number of activities on behalf of the 6,000-plus students who enroll each year at the college.

The SGA is comprised of all registered DCC students.  Its purpose is to promote a better understanding between the faculty and the students, to regulate and encourage activities beneficial to the morale of the students and the welfare of DCC, and to act as the official voice of the student body.

“It has been a good experience for me to be involved with the SGA,” McDowell says. “We have accomplished a lot of projects.”

McDowell says the SGA has provided input for enhanced safety and security efforts on campus. Other projects include: co-sponsoring the Virginia Community College Student  Leadership Conference, SGA Teacher of the Year award, Fall and Spring picnics, Toys for Teens, horseshoe and baggo tournaments, holiday activities for children, participation in the annual Jeopardbee and representing the campus at statewide community college meetings.

“Josh is a very well-rounded young man, has a lot of interests and is a hard worker. He has been a very conscientious and thoughtful SGA president,” says JoLane Dunlap, a DCC Counselor and one of the SGA advisors. “He is certainly very enthusiastic about promoting DCC.”

McDowell first enrolled in DCC’s precision machining technology program in 2005, after graduation from Tunstall High School, where he played football for four years. Since he had taken dual enrollment classes while in high school and earned college credit for them, he says there was no doubt that he would attend DCC.

“The programs that DCC has to offer are well suited for preparing students for jobs in the real world,” McDowell explains. “The faculty and staff are friendly and look out for the best interest of the student, and it’s close to home.”

He earned a diploma in precision machining in May 2007, graduating with honors. But soon he was back on campus in the fall to pursue an associate degree in Science, and plans to be one of the first students to enroll this fall in DCC’s new Associate of Science Degree program in Engineering, a partnership with the University of Virginia. Eventually, McDowell wants to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program in mechanical engineering. And, as if McDowell wasn’t busy enough, he also is currently completing requirements for a career studies certificate in Welding.

“I have always had an interest in building things. I enjoy doing CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawings, blueprints and designing parts,” he adds, noting that he is interested in career that will combine these interests.

In addition to being a dedicated student, McDowell, the son of Chuck and Becky McDowell, has been employed at EIT South in Danville for the past year.  He says the precision machining program prepared him for his current job as a

machinist.

“I am grateful to Troy Simpson (Associate Professor of Precision Machining Technology). I really learned a lot from him. His style of teaching is easy to learn and he makes everything interesting,” McDowell notes.

McDowell also has an interesting hobby – participating in 3D Archery Shoots. As a member of a league, he has participated in 10 local and seven national tournaments and has won a couple of shoots. While DCC offers several club sports, including baseball, soccer and basketball, McDowell believes archery should be added.

“I would love to see this sport to come to DCC’s campus,” McDowell says. “There are a lot of students who would be interested if available. It (archery) is not as well known as the others.”

McDowell says he encourages others to attend DCC.

 “DCC is more than a community college; it is a place where they pride themselves in providing students with the best education possible,” he says. “They will always do what they can to ensure that the students are successful, no matter the career goal. I enjoy the laid back atmosphere at DCC. The people (faculty and staff) are wonderful and very helpful.”

 For more information about DCC’s programs of study, contact Cathy Pulliam, Assistant Coordinator of Recruitment and Enrollment Management, at 434.797.8538; 800.560.4291, ext. 8538; or click here.