Ranken Technical College

 As President and CEO of R&S Machining, Inc, Thomas Roderick’s unparalleled determination and work ethic has made R&S Machining a leader in the aerospace industry, specializing in 4 & 5 axis aerospace components. Tom graduated Summa Cum Laude with a certification in Machine Shop in 1987 and later taught the Precision Machining program at Ranken Technical College from fall of 1989 to 1994. Tom tells us, “Ranken taught me that you can do whatever you put your mind to. Problem solving skills instilled a work ethic giving me the confidence to preserver in the face of adversity. It has allowed me to provide for my family in ways I never would have imagined.” After serving a two-year apprenticeship in a job shop, Tom took a position with McDonnell Douglas, headquartered at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. During his ten years at McDonnell Douglas, Tom developed a very strong passion for aerospace manufacturing and a spirited enthusiasm for bettering the business. R...

 “Ranken helps most students obtain a sense of a scheduled, orderly life with rules you must follow no matter how ridiculous students may think they are,” says Colton Knowles. “The classes were very balanced in ratio of students-to-instructors, which alleviated the challenge of receiving instructive, one-on-one clarity when you simply asked for it.” Students in the St. Louis campus Construction Division programs use their skills to build houses in the neighborhood through our nonprofit Ranken Community Development Corporation (RCDC). They receive construction training in a “learn by doing” style, supervised by our faculty in every facet of construction. Colton enjoyed plumbing those houses with his class during the winter of 2019. Most of his classmates had never been a part of a “build” before and he enjoyed seeing everybody’s reaction to the physical demands and know-how required when piping a house together. He says, “You learn a lot about the people you thought you knew when yo...

Adam Blattel is much like many talented adults who spend years in search of their niche. Adam graduated with an Associate Degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology in May 2003. He returned to Ranken the fall term of 2019 as an evening student to pursue a two-year certificate in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technology (HVAC), graduating in December 2020. Adam is a HVAC Technician at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Benjamin Brown, HVAC Section Supervisor at Scott Air Force Base and HVAC instructor at Ranken Technical College, tells us “Adam was in my residential HVAC class. He was very serious about his education. He worked hard in class and asked lots of questions; his communication skills are outstanding. Adam applied for a temporary position at Scott AFB in the 375th HVAC Shop. This is a great way to gain experience working on all types of commercial, residential, and institutional equipment just coming out of school. He was hired as an apprentice but is working at a...

Stephen “Andrew” Taylor graduated in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Technology. He served an internship at Frontenac Engineering Group after completion of the first year of his program, then began working at Crown C. Supply during the summer after his second year. Andrew is currently a Draftsman and Taper System Estimator @ Crown Supply where he is appreciated for his contributions. Dave Kelly, Assistant Branch Manager at Crown Supply, explains “Andrew is very skilled in Auto-Cad and Revit, and most of his work at this location is with Auto-Cad. He is organized and understands prioritizing work on deadlines. He was able to hit the ground running after his time interning with us prior to accepting a full-time position. Andrew understands workflow and adjusts ‘on the fly’ to changes based on customer requests. He is a dedicated worker, is on time, and works extra time as needed to fulfill needs during peak times. Andrew is willing to perform any task workin...

Nour Fuqa began her collegiate journey in the Architectural Engineering program at Birzeit University in Palestine. When s he and her family moved to the United States in 2016, Nour wanted to continue her studies. “Ranken was recommended by a friend who is a Ranken alumna,” she said. “Besides being a good program, the hire rate for graduation is extremely high from Ranken.” Nour graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ranken Technical College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture in 2019. She has recently been awarded a Director’s Scholarship from Washington University in St. Louis to pursue her master’s degree in architecture.   Nour is an architectural assistant for HT Design, LLC in St. Louis. Duane Thompson, Principal, HT Design, appreciates having Nour on his team. “ During this challenging last year, Miss Fuqa has been a great team member and reliable asset,” he said. “She has shown great capacity for putting together construction drawing sets including researching code...

David Munie graduated from Ranken’s Plumbing Technology program in 1990. He took the post of Plumbing Department Chair and Instructor at Ranken in 2015. Since that time, Dave has been writing curriculum and teaching day students the craft of plumbing. He also maintains a departmental budget and does an incredible job of recruiting future plumbers for our industry. Dave has increased enrollment in Ranken’s Plumbing Technology program four-fold in the past five years. With Dave’s ingenuity and imagination, Ranken now has a state-of-the-art three-story plumbing laboratory. “[The structure has] 43 bathrooms, so every student’s going to put full bathrooms in. They’re going to do laundries, kitchens, water heaters . . . and we’re going to turn it on, he says, we’re growing great plumbers from the ground up.” Dave, Master Plumber, has been a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101 in Belleville, Illinois for 27 years. He’s been a leader in charge of many different facets of the plumbing ...

Miguel Anthony “Tony” Raya graduated with an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting in May 1991. He worked as an architectural technologist for The Korte Company following graduation. In August 2000, Tony joined HOK Architects’ St. Louis Studio as a Senior Project Architect. HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm. In 2020, the Saint Louis Business Journal named HOK both the area’s largest architecture firm and largest interior design firm. HOK announced July 19, 2021, that Tony Raya had been promoted to Technical Principal. Dennis Nieweg, former Ranken architecture instructor, recollects "Tony was an outstanding student who set a great example for his fellow students. He handled adversity well and worked with and encouraged his classmates to work hard and do their best as well. It is very helpful for a teacher to have a student like Tony who sets their standards high and promotes great work ethics that classmates can look up to and follow." T...