A pair of top Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center students were selected as 2024 Malco Head of the Class recipients last month.
Samuel Johnson and Parker Kneir, seniors in the HVAC-R program, were awarded tool kits valued at approximately $150 that included a turbo shear, magnetic measuring tape, ratcheting handle, set of dual-sided magnetic hex drivers and extension bits.
“We congratulate each and every Head of the Class honoree who is going above and beyond as they learn the skills they need to pursue a successful career in the trades,” said Malco Chief Executive Officer Rich Benninghoff in a press release. “These up-and-coming professionals are the future of the trades, and Malco is proud to recognize these well-deserving graduates.”
The students were entered into the national recognition program by instructor Dan Parker for their academic performance. Kneir previously took the introductory and second-year HVAC-R classes and was the top student in the afternoon session last school year, according to Parker. Johnson, a member of the morning class, placed fourth in the appliance repair competition during the National SkillsUSA Championship in June in Atlanta, where the chaperoning instructor learned about the Head of the Class program.
Malco additionally extended the TCC a 15 percent discount on purchases made this summer, Parker noted. A total of $25,000 was invested into tools for the HVAC-R program during the 2023/24 school year through ‘Explore the Trades Skills Lab, Built By Ferguson’ and the SkillsUSA Classroom Enhancement/Community Service Grant sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement, along with a $35,000 equipment donation from Nortek.
“Between the two grants and the donation of the units, my class has totally changed in the last year,” Parker said. “We now are on par with any class in the state and very close to the same capabilities of the national competition.”
Since 2005, Head of the Class has recognized several thousand honorees from over 1,000 institutions in North America including many high school Career and Technical Education programs. Malco, a leading manufacturer of American-made tools for professional use, donates over $150,000 of in-kind products and apparel annually to a variety of skills trade education programs, competitions and events across the country, according to its website.
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Cutline: Samuel Johnson (left) and Parker Kneir (right) display their awards with heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration instructor Dan Parker on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the TCC.