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By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) donated $2,5000 to the Jacksboro Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) on Wednesday. The donation was secured by Senator Ken Yager, who has pledged to fundraise for the TCAT foundation.
State Representative Dennis Powers was also in attendance for the check presentation, as was UCOR President Kenneth J. Rueter, UCOR Chief of Staff Samantha Dolynchuk, TCAT President Debbie Petree and Vice president Tim Smith, along with Joe Aylor, with UCOR.
The funds were donated to a scholarship foundation program which is run by TCAT. This foundation covers items that tuition scholarships do not, such as books, funds for tools needed for school courses, as well as transportational needs and emergency situations.
“I was just so impressed with what they were doing, I wanted to step up to the plate and raise funds. The foundation is the deal maker for some of these kids and makes the difference of whether or not they can stay in school sometimes. State and federal funds are often restricted but these funds have more flexibility to help students with those needs, which is why I support this program,” Yager said.
Yager originally learned about the foundation program at the ground breaking of one of TCAT’s new buildings in October 2019. At that event, he pledged to raise $15,000 to go towards the foundation. Wednesday’s donation of $2,500 brings the total to $11,800 raised so far. Yager said he plans to raise the rest this year, hopefully by fall.
UCOR President Kenneth J.Rueter said the company was expanding its community involvement in Campbell County and that their plan was simple, “we want to be good stewards to the communities that are hosting us and to the people who work for us,” Rueter said.
“About 15 percent of our workforce is from Campbell County and we are reinvesting in our communities. We are happy to help TCAT with this foundation,” Rueter said.
According to Rueter, UCOR’s goal is to give back to communities in four main areas, including “child advocacy, educational outreach, under served communities and groups, ad well as being more involved in conservation and natural assets of the beauty of East Tennessee.”
Rueter said he appreciated the opportunity to partner with TCAT with the donation and that UCOR was “investing in where its workforce comes from.”
TCAT President Debbie Petree said the school was grateful for the donation and that the funds would help students in ways other scholarships couldn’t.
“Partnerships are critical to what we do. We are so thrilled with this donation from UCOR and the help it will provide to our students,” Petree said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/26/2022-6AM)