Machinists Union Graduates Honored by National Labor College


Attending the award ceremony for 2011 National Labor College graduates, from left, Winpisinger Education Center Director Chris Wagoner; graduates John Ratcliffe, Local 2203; James Bowling, Local 912; Paul DeTrana, Local 794 and Rhonda Rogers, Local 1943. General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr., right, represented the IAM Executive Council at the ceremony. (Local 751A member Duy Tran earned a degree but could not attend the ceremony).

IAM members who earned Bachelor’s degrees in 2011 from the AFL-CIO’s National Labor College (NLC) in Silver Spring, MD were honored at the College’s annual graduation ceremony.

The IAM had one of the largest numbers of graduates, due in part to the coordinated program between the IAM and the National Labor College that allows IAM members to complete part of their curriculum at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Southern Maryland. Another advantage is that most of the Winpisinger Center’s classes are college accredited and count towards the NLC degree program.

“Each year it is a great privilege to see IAM members complete this program and share their success with their families and fellow members,” said Winpisinger Center Director Chris Wagoner. “We’re glad that the Winpisinger Center can be an integral part of our members’ ability to earn a bachelor’s degree or go on to earn a master’s degree.”

More than 1,000 working men and women have earned degrees through the NLC program, the nation’s only union-based college. For information about earning a college degree through the National Labor College, contact the Winpisinger Education and Technology Center at 301-373-3300.

Click here to view a video story about the IAM NLC class of 2011, “A Cut Above the Rest.”

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