2000 Sterling snowplow truck (Minnesota DOT)The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has donated a snowplow to Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota, to use in the school’s truck driving program.
The program “offers hands-on and classroom training for careers in the transportation industry,” and equipment such as the snowplow exposes students to real-world equipment and scenarios, the department says. MnDOT also plans to work with Riverland to provide details on careers at the agency for students in the program.
“We see this as an opportunity for both of our organizations to benefit,” says Jeff Vlaminck, district engineer for MnDOT District 6 in southeast Minnesota. “MnDOT is proud to partner with Riverland, because so much of our culture is about learning, training and improving. This is a strong connection to our mission.”
MnDOT says it was replacing the 2000 Sterling snowplow in its fleet as part of a normal cycle of vehicle replacement. Periodically the department places some snowplows on a state auction or sells them to other agencies and municipalities in need of the equipment.
The college has offered a truck driving program at the Austin campus for 30 years. It lasts 16 weeks, with the sessions beginning either in August or March.
“One of Riverland’s key strategies has been to build strong partnerships with businesses, industries and agencies that employ our students,” says Adenuga Atewologun, Riverland Community College president. “We shape our training around the needs in our state and region. This donation and partnership is a prime example of two organizations working together to provide best in class training and better employment for students who graduate from our program.”
Riverland Community College President Adenuga Atewologun, center, holds the keys to the 2000 Sterling snowplow donated to the college’s truck driving program by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. MnDOT District Engineer Jeff Vlaminck is directly left and Jonathan Rymer, the truck driving program director is directly right of Atewologun. Students and staff of the program gathered for the photo by the snowplow. (Riverland Community College)
