LEWISTON, Idaho – Professional-Technical students at Lewis-Clark State College once again have a piece of machinery that will prove to be invaluable as they pursue their education – a forklift, donated as a gift to the college by Pape Machinery of Spokane. The shiny yellow forklift was delivered to the college today.
Lewis-Clark State College Foundation Vice President Brad Cannon played a key role in arranging for the donation.
“A discussion about a new forklift for the Technical and Industrial Division was started at a Foundation meeting about eight months ago,” Cannon said, after personally driving the forklift from the parking lot at LCSC’s Wittman Complex to the Diesel Technology shop. “We were told that they had to discontinue using their previous forklift because it was no longer in compliance with safety or OSHA regulations. So I told the board that I would start checking with my suppliers to see if a forklift could be found and what the cost might be.”
Cannon said he started by visiting with two Pape representatives - Mike Kuntz and Cully Nadwornich. He explained to them what the situation was and suggested that a donation on their part would be greatly appreciated.
“It took them a few months to locate a machine, but they came through with a full donation to the college,” said Cannon. “Mike Zeck, who is part of Pape’s management team, secured the forklift, had it painted, and sent down. Pape was really excited to help out the college and the students. They are a company that does not need or want a lot of recognition, but fully understands the importance of helping out in the communities they serve. Pape is a great company with a focus on education and they’re extremely proud to help out LCSC.”
Cannon, who owns Cannon’s Building Materials, Inc. in Lewiston, said the refurbished forklift is valued at $18,000 - $20,000. Cannon covered the cost of re-painting it.
Bill Frei is a professor of diesel technology in the LCSC Technical and Industrial Division. He says the newly donated forklift will be utilized in diesel technology, collision, automotive, welding, automated manufacturing, and any of the other programs with heavy lifting needs.
“Our old forklift was destroyed and hauled away for scrap iron,” Frei said. “Two years ago the state inspector red tagged it for not having the proper rollover protection device (ROPS). It was pulled out of service immediately and sat idle for a year while we figured out what we were going to do with it. The inspector wanted it destroyed so no other agency could operate it unsafely.”
Frei said he believes the old forklift had been at the college since the 1970’s.
“This gift will mean so much to our students, especially in the diesel program, because we teach a forklift certification which is recognized worldwide. This certification gives our graduates another tool when they're out there competing for jobs. Most businesses today require a forklift certification before operating any of these lifting devices and our students come out of school with that ability. We would just like to say thanks to all who were involved in acquiring this piece of equipment.”
The gift was made through the Foundation’s fundraising effort Campaign LCSC – Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future. The campaign’s goal is to raise $12 million. To date, $11.8 million has been raised.
Gifts to Campaign LCSC can be made online, by sending a check, donating stocks, or even donating agricultural commodities. To make a gift, please go to www.lcsc.edu/foundation or contact Mary Hasenoehrl at [email protected] or 208-792-2458.
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Photo above: standing by the donated forklift parked in the LCSC Diesel Technology shop (L-R) Prof. Bill Frei, Prof. Clarence Griffin, Assistant Prof. Jay Kimble, Associate Prof. Rik Brosten, LCSC Foundation VP Brad Cannon, Dean of Professional-Technical Programs Rob Lohrmeyer, LCSC Foundation Board Member Mike Ripley, and Technical & Industrial Division Chair Tim Wiggins.