US college receives $250,000 grant from Duke Energy for high-tech lab
09/10/2014
Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in North Carolina, USA, has received a $250,000 grant from Duke Energy through the Duke Energy Foundation to greatly enhance the college’s non-destructive examination technology lab.
CPCC will use the Duke Energy grant to purchase multiple pieces of high-tech equipment for its non-destructive examination (NDE) technology lab, located at the Harper Campus. NDE is the process of examining a material or part without damaging the component. NDE methods are used to find hidden imperfections, flaws or damage. These are then compared to standards, established by sound engineering principles, to determine if the part can continue in service. NDE is often a routine part of design, manufacture and in-service testing performed to better establish and assess the reliability of a component in its design function. CPCC offers degree, diploma and certificate programmes in NDE.
“The equipment CPCC will obtain through this Duke Energy grant represents the state-of-the-art in NDE technology and will position the college as a national leader for this highly specialised training,” explained Jay Potter, Dean of Harper Campus and Applied Technologies and Construction Technologies divisions. “By purchasing new, advanced equipment, CPCC will increase its capacity to produce the best-trained students and support the workforce needs of the Charlotte region’s advanced manufacturing sectors.”
“Our partnership with Central Piedmont Community College develops a highly-skilled workforce that will attract and retain businesses in the region for years to come,” said Paul Newton, Duke Energy’s State President – North Carolina.
“CPCC sincerely thanks Duke Energy for this generous grant that will greatly benefit our students and enhance the college’s ability to help meet the region’s workforce needs in engineering, aviation/aerospace, transportation, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals,” added Potter.
