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Show Wednesday, July 9, 2003 Euwesslms Community Calendar 9 July Three men see hopeful futures through program By Maureen Spencer Express Writer Hes hard to see there, along the ditch line between some willows. The closer you get you realize that a tall man is working on a long, detailed pipe fence. His face is obscured by a metal and glass shield as he turns from side to side, easing a welding torch onto each joint, making the fence a thing of beauty. The face shield comes up for a quick wipe of his brow and 2003 Uintah High School graduate Garrett Harrison quickly extends his hand and beams a confident . Daniel. Garrett is working on just one more in a long list of his professionally designed and completed welding projects. Hes just as confident repairing and building diesel motors. Across town, another man drops greasy work clothes on his way to the shower. He's been pulling tires off of a tractor and working long hours on rebuilding its diesel motor. Hes in a hurry to get the grime from his hands and arms. Within the hour he will be in white shirt and dress suit, seated at a piano permusic. beautiful forming Sometimes hes accompanying others, sometimes hes solo, but all the time the sounds are sweet and played with feeling. Daniel Richardson is also a 2003 Uintah High graduate and can just as easily shift into a marching band set of quads or a UHS hockey team suit. He lettered all three years at Uintah before his graduation this Mechanical interests and abilities a price. Both have learned to respect the nature of the work they do. Daniel holds his arm up to show the remnants of the scar his watch caused when it was melted on his wrist, victim of a positive battery post. There was the time a careless job boss told Daniel the electricity was off and sent Daniel to connect wires. When Daniel picked himself up from the floor and assured himself he was still alive following absorbing a grinding jolt of live electricity, he quit the job. The stage is set, and Garrett can add his near miss stories. Daniel counters with another. To the casual observer it doesnt take long to understand that these two have learned many things by very hard experience. Daniel is the son of James and Cristine Richardson. Garrett is the son of Christine Holmes Harrison and Robert Wesley Harrison. didnt come without spring. Its summer now, and the hoopla and excitement of their high school graduation has faded Into a recent These are two young memory. men, but both made far reaching, mature decisions about their futures when they realized that the world of diesel mechanics and welding was the one that would determine their occupational futures. Garrett and Daniel became part of the Uintah High School Diesel Academy directed by teacher Keith McMullin. Garrett had added the UHS Welding Academy to his educational resume, also. Both have earned certificates from the Uintah Basin Applied Technology College. McMullin instituted the Uintah Diesel Academy for heavy duty mechanics program after a trip to in School High Northridge The Academy Kaysville. approach to high school teaching was an answer he sought to improve the educational backgrounds he was providing his diesel and welding students. The Diesel Academy was to teach the importance of both academic studies and Diesel 1, (basic vehicular trades), Diesel 2 (drive trains where students learn rebuilding of engines, transmissions, differentials Garretts life is tied closely to and other drive train components trouble-shootinand g farming and the outdoors. along with 3 Diesel and diagnostics), (Advanced Diesel where trucks are way you need. learnr, covered Through the years Daniel and Garrett have built and fabneated ing about all of the systems includAlaska might figure in his post bring him home ultimately. ing air, hydraulic, and electrical). many tools and pieces of equipment I am always working. It is just for use on their family farms. The Technology educational future. His experience Applied of my familys work ethic and For both, theirs were not childAcademy would guide students like and education will qualify him for part my life, he says. Garrett and Daniel to get the job ' top pay in this hunters paradise. hoods of idly standing by watching Garrett foresees his own the adults work on machinery and Daniel says he and Garrett fight they want to have, whether right out solve problems associated with of high school or to become better like friends. Just dont confuse the ing shop where he welds and cusbuilds things. He says, I want farms. As qualified with more education in the red trucks that each owns. Mines tom boys they were fetching field. materials and holding tools working the nice one, Daniel says with a to produce things from raw materiGarrett says he had dinked glance towards the mud dobbed als and cut and shape materials the alongside their family. around the first part of high school truck that Garrett is driving. , I got that mud with HONOR!, and had ducked some English, but the Academy motivation made him Garrett interrupts with pride. A rare aware he needed to be diverse to Ashley Valley rainstorm the day before had provided a mud bog too open professional opportunities. He made up the English before good to pass up. Daniel discovered mechanics as a graduating. It all just caught up with me, he sophomore in high school. He also discovered that teachers have difsays with a big grin. To him Garret and Daniel will be attendferent approaches. in Price Utah Eastern of McMullin and his combined use of ing College this fall on a full tuition scholarship a shop and a classroom made sense. and an additional $1,000 towards Daniels first love since he Was in housing. Their high school work the fourth grade was to be in airline through UBATC qualifies them to turbines and jet engines. Hie UHS waive first year CEU classes academy program is a stepping because of the calibre of work they stone for his tnoving to Sydney, Australia, where he wants to work represent. At one point in his life Garrett in the Boeing main shop. Men fn dreamed of becoming a marine that field take home $32,000 per i biologist, but he says, Id always month. be working for somebody if I was a He plans to only be in Australia biologist. Besides, theres nothing I 20 years or so. like better than to put something And then he is sure that his heart back together. Theres no greater will bring him back to his familys Vernal ranch. feeling. I want to get my associates in He grew up there, irrigated there, I diesel first and welding later. worked animals and equipment always want to keep learning somethere, and it is there that all of his thing. If you stop learning you quit daydreams return. The smell of Garretts insight is alfalfa hay and the nearness of cows growing. remarkable. and sheep and horses he is sure will Garrett welds on a farm fence he designed for a local farm. bumper-to-bumpe- , COPY rt Music is another interest for smile. B1 Teacher looks into the future It is late in the day as a man stands in the middle of an emptied diesel shop. The heavy equipment worth thousands of dollars have all been put on blocks and moved to another building. Budget cuts will reduce the size of classes that Keith McMullin will have next year in his diesel and He will be welding academies. with Jeff facilities sharing Taniguchi who will join him in teaching the academy approach. Jo Jo Gale has directed good students through her counseling into his program. Engineering, computer integrated engineering and digital electronics introduction to design will be part of future academies. McMullin is finishing his masters degree in secondary trades industry education at Utah State in Logan this summer. It was McMullin who sought alignments with higher educational facilities to develop the UHS academies, and be able to place his students. He wrote the program, and students put in the work that permits them to waive first year studies. McMullin sought the scholarships for his graduates and guided them to secondary educations and profitable futures. He works hard to help his students be prepared to get the best out of life. He hopes his efforts will bear fruit. Success rests squarely on the teacher, McMullin will tell you. Uintah Basin Arts and Crafts fair, at State and County building lawn. Ends at dusk. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo runs through July 12 at Western Park. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo personalities and royalty visits Maeser Connections for short program. Be safe, fit and drug free. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo at Cobble Rock Park 5 p.m. Live entertainment, dancing, cowboy poetry. Free to the public. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo parade at 5 p.m. running east on Main from Post Office to Western Park, 302 E. 200 S. 6:30 p.m. Rodeo p.m. p.m. Rodeo festivities begin at Western Park. Free childrens area, mechanical bull, mini trade show. Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. Service Officer from the American Legion will be at the Roosevelt Dept. Of Workforce Services from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and at the Vernal Dept Of Workforce Services from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to help understand and apply for VA benefits. Bring DD form 214, marriagedi voice papers, birthadoptiondeath certificates and childrens social security numbers. Uintah County Library has story time every Wednesday at No 10:30 and 1 1 :30 for ages kindergarten session during the summer. pre-sho- w 3-- 5. July 10 Uintah Basin Arts and Crafts Fair at State and County Building lawn. Ends at dusk. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo and royalty at personalities At Rotary luncheon at noon. to Uintah Care Center 1:30-2:3- 0 visit residents. A handicapped childrens Special Rodeo at Western Park at 4 p.m. gives children the opportunity to see what it is like to be in the rode. All will be able to visit the queens, clowns and barrelmen. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo at Cobble Rock Park 5 p.m. Live entertainment, dancing, cowboy poetry. Free to the public. Rpdeo trade show, kids activities at 5. 6:30 p.m. Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. Family Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo dance. Kids night. Great prizes. Alcohol free. in TOPS the meets Conference Room of the Vernal City Building. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, call An Gwen Peterson at open house is from 1 1 :30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Vernal Rotary Club meets at noon in the 1 1 Ranch Cafe. Golden Age Center offers a low impact exercise class at 10:30 a.m. (continued on all Tuesdays and Thursdays) Pre-sho- w 789-835- 6. 7-- July 11 Uintah Basin Arts and Crafts Fair at State and County building lawn. Ends at dusk. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo personalities and royalty will attend Birthday Wendys Celebration at noon. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo at Cobble Rock Park 5 p.m. Live entertainment, dancing, cowboy poetry. Free to the public. Rodeo trade show and kids activities 5 p.m. at Western Park. Rodeo at 6:30 p.m. Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo dance and bikini contest. Must be over 21. Live DJ. Great prizes. Admission $5. Community dance at the Golden Age Center at 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. every Friday night. All ages are welcome, Kays Band provides the music, 155 S. 100 W. July 12 Uintah Basin Arts and Crafts Fair at State and County Building lawn. Ends at dusk. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo closing night Rodeo trade show and kids activities 5 p.m. at Western Park. Rodeo preshow at 6:30 p.m. Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo Dance and Bikini contest. Must be over 21. Live DJ. Great prizes. Admission $5. July 14 Uintah Basin Chess Club meets at 7 p.m. at Kingsbury Community Hall. Everyone is welcome. pre-sho- w To place items of public interest on the Community Calendar mail to Vernal Express, P.O. Box editorvemal.com 1000, or call the Vernal Express at il, 3 |