ITC Grand Opening

March 17, 2017

National Park College (NPC) welcomed more than 100 guests for the grand opening of the Innovative Technologies Center (ITC) Thursday. The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce ambassadors conducted a ribbon cutting.

Speakers included NPC Board Chair, Forrest Spicher, NPC President, Dr. John Hogan, ITC Director, William Polk and Dr. Maria Markham, Director of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE). Markham said the ITC provides “exactly what we need to be responsive to industry, and I look forward to continuing to support it and see it evolve and grow.”

Many notable guests and grant partners were in attendance, including Dr. Suzanne Mitchell, Director of the Arkansas STEM Coalition, and Cara Cox from Congressman Bruce Westerman’s office.

ITC grant partners include the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Hot Springs Metro Partnership, Arkansas Career Training Institute, West Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, University of Arkansas Little Rock, Berry Plastics, Craft Manufacturing & Tooling, Inc., Airtech Supply, Inc., Hot Springs School District, and Phillips Corporation/HAAS.

ITC staff provided demonstrations of 3D modeling and 3D printing, microcontrollers, renewable energy, CNC machining, drones, industrial robotics, and controllers. National Park Technology Center students Katelyn Ostrem from Lake Hamilton High School and Kirstie Pennington from Lakeside High School presented their medical innovations project which won a gold medal at last week’s state Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competition. Ostrem and Pennington collaborated with ITC Director, William Polk to produce a streamlined supportive ankle brace made of carbon fiber. The students also worked with aerospace instructor Al Bradbury, and the Arizona Brace Company.

The ITC is funded by a $894,000 Regional Workforce Training Grant from ADHE. The center’s primary goal is to align workforce development and academic programs with regional economic development strategies to meet the needs of local and regional employers and prepare a workforce with the skills to be competitive in the 21st century workplace. The ITC will create an environment of technology collaboration and exchange among education, industry, innovators and the community.

Pictured left to right Katelyn Ostrem from Lake Hamilton High School explains her medical innovations project to Bentley Wallace, UA-Pulaski Tech, Dr. Maria Markham, ADHE, and Susan Spicher, CHI St. Vincent.