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Director of Public Relations

Phoebe Bruce

Public Relations & Marketing Assistant

STUDENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT - June 2006

Matthew Marshall - Precision Machining Technology

“I was born to be a machinist” says, Matthew Marshall of Ringgold.

Marshall, a first-year student enrolled in the Precision Machining program, is a 2005 graduate of Westover Christian Academy in Danville. It was his love for “hands on projects” that first attracted him to the field of precision machining technology. It was a natural that he should enroll in Danville Community College.

Since attending DCC, he has attained a perfect 4.0 grade point average which has enabled him to receive many awards and honors including the DCC Educational Foundation/ Golf Tournament Scholarship and achieving a place on the President’s Honors List. He is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS), which is the nation’s highest award for excellence in career and technical education.

Marshall is excited to attend college, and says he is the first in his family to pursue a college degree. He says his parents, Mark and Laurie Marshall, are very proud of his accomplishments.

“My parents are happy that I am at DCC because I’m still in town and not hundreds of miles away,” Marshall says.

It was his teacher at Westover Christian who first encouraged Marshall to pursue a career in precision machining. The teacher thought it would be a perfect fit for Marshall.

“I love to work with my hands, so at first I was torn between Precision Machining and Automotive (Analysis and Repair). But after I took a tour of the Precision Machining Lab and equipment at DCC, I decided to go with Precision Machining,” says Marshall.

Marshall laughs that he actually started taking precision machining classes at DCC a week prior to graduating from high school.

Marshall says that he was not attracted to jobs that require sitting at a computer all day. Instead the “hands on” training offers variety.

“I was not interested in a job sitting at a computer all day,” Marshall explains. “Precision machining is fun. The time goes by quickly; some days are aggravating, but the fun we have (in learning) always makes up for it.

“DCC has hands on training in this field, you can learn more that way. I enjoy my professor, Doug Poole, because he has worked in the precision machining field for 20 years. So when he tells you something it’s easy to listen to him because he knows what he’s talking about. He has tons of stories that you never get tired of hearing,” Marshall continues.

For his part, Doug Poole, who is Associate Professor of Precision Machining Technology, has a high praise for Marshall. Poole believes Marshall will do well in this field.

“Matt actually enjoys what he does. He is an excellent student who shows up to class everyday on time, is mannerable, has good ethics and good character. He gets along with other students and has all the great qualities you want in a person,” says Poole.

One of the first machines he learned to use was a lathe, according to Marshall. He says once given a blueprint, the process is to drill a piece of metal and to cut it to size. The work requires math skills which is not a problem for Marshall who says he is good in math.

“DCC’s math and English courses are structured for this program. There are resources to help students who have difficulty with math and English,” Poole says. ‘We also have the best and latest equipment and wouldn’t have it without the support of the President (Dr. Carlyle Ramsey) and other college administrators.”

Marshall, 18, says the best thing to him at DCC is the cutting edge technology at the school. He says it is second to none in the precision machining lab and that DCC students are getting the very best experiences. Upon graduation in May 2007, Marshall plans to obtain a job in the precision machining technology field.

Precision Machining Technology is a two-year diploma program designed to train persons for employment in the many occupations available in industrial manufacturing shops. Some of the occupational titles for graduates of this field include: Machine Tool Operator, Machinist, Mold Maker, Shop Manager, Tool and Die Maker. Poole notes that the program teaches the theoretical and practical experiences in the care and use of tools, care and use of machines, working to proper tolerances, technical drafting, computer numerical control programming, CAD-CAM training, metallurgy tool making, jig and fixture design, precision measurements, and development of leadership qualities.

“We take our work seriously, but on the other hand we have fun, Poole says. “Students become good friends rather than just colleagues. Precision Machining is a great opportunity for students. This two- year program allows students to finish and get jobs with an average salary of $30,000-40,000 per year. These students find they can do extremely well. Our DCC grads all have good job offers.”

That is one of the main reasons Marshall came to DCC because of the opportunity to be recruited by companies that visit the program.

“I noticed that there is something for everyone at DCC and it is cheaper than going to a four-year university where you will receive the same education,” says Marshall.

For more information about the program contact either Doug Poole at (434) 797-8519 or Troy Simpson, Associate Professor of Precision Machining Technology, at (434) 797-8558.