Ozarka College recently received a charitable contribution in the amount of $5,000 from First National Bank of Izard County to support Ozarka's Welding Center expansion in downtown Mountain View. The contribution will fully outfit one of 10 welding booths at the center. Each welding station will be equipped with welders with industry driven add-ons, specifically, a "push-pull gun " application used by local Stone County industries.

 "Ozarka College is a tremendous asset to the communities they serve and we are committed to supporting this project, " said Kenny Thornton, president of First National Bank of Izard County. "It is our hope that students will receive a degree in welding from Ozarka College and find employment with a local company. We are always ready to support such worthy projects that benefit our communities. " 

The new Welding Center in Mountain View is an expansion to serve the greater Mountain View area. The Center will house advanced welding education for college students in preparation for today's workforce, will assist local industries with continuing education needs for their employees, and will enable area high school students an accelerated pathway into high-demand career fields. 

 "We are very appreciative of the tremendous support from the community to help furnish and equip this new facility," said Ozarka College president, Dr. Richard Dawe. "Citizens of Mountain View and Stone County understand, and directly support, the powerful and life-changing opportunities Ozarka provides through education."

The new Welding Center in Mountain View is an expansion to serve the greater Mountain View area. The Center will house advanced welding education for college students in preparation for today's workforce, will assist local industries with continuing education needs for their employees, and will enable area high school students an accelerated pathway into high-demand career fields. 

The donation from First National Bank of Izard County comes after Ozarka's 2019 designation as a regional Secondary Technical Center by the Career Education and Workforce Development Board.   The designation allows the College to offer secondary technical training to area high school students.   Secondary technical centers are designed to provide career and technical education programs too costly for the local high schools to offer.

The commitment from First National Bank of Izard County is a contribution toward Ozarka College Foundation's fundraising campaign, an effort to raise capital to advance programs as well as furnish and equip state-of-the-art facilities.   If you are interested in supporting these new technical education opportunities, there are multiple giving opportunities available. For more information, contact Dr. Josh Wilson with the Ozarka College Foundation at foundation@ozarka.edu or 870.368.2060.

*Photo Caption: (L-R) Kim Lovelace, Ozarka College Mountain View Campus Director; Abby Buchanan, First National Bank of Izard County Vice President