Jun 15, 2021

Representatives from the Gary Works Safety Department recently visited the Gary Area Career Center (GACC) Construction Trades Program to drop off much-needed items purchased by U. S. Steel from local suppliers. The safety and construction supplies will be used by local high school students in GACC’s Construction Technology vocational training program. 

Over the past few months, the Safety Department worked with Ivy Tech Community College’s Doug Sowash, chair of the GACC Trades Program, and local suppliers to secure the items needed. Donated items included safety glasses, lens wipes, mechanics gloves, tape measures, hammers, and speed squares.  A similar donation was made to Portage High School earlier this year.

“I want to thank U. S. Steel for their support of our Construction Trades program,” Doug said.  “We here at GACC appreciate the generous offer to help out our students.”

Terry Carter, Gary Works’ Manager of Safety & Security, and ShaKeia Reese, Gary Works’ Safety & Industrial Hygiene Specialist, delivered the donations on May 20.  While there, Terry and ShaKeia were able to see some of the projects the Construction Trades students had been working on throughout the year.  This includes a small home the students were building, which is pictured above as Terry did a walk-through. 

“I was impressed at the craftsmanship that was on display in the workshop.  You can tell the students have really put in a lot of good work,” Terry said.

Special thanks to Lisa Gratkowski, Dan Killeen, and Dan Thomas for working with our local suppliers to secure the donated items.