LATC cuts ribbon for the new archway

LATC cuts ribbon for the new archway.


Orator and TV Personality Mike Rowe, was on hand at LATC for the ribbon cutting for the new archway over Arrow Avenue.

Orator and TV Personality Mike Rowe, was on hand at LATC for the ribbon cutting for the new archway over Arrow Avenue.

Lake Area Technical College held the official ribbon cutting for its new archway over over Arrow Avenue on Sept. 26 featuring a flyover by LATC pilots, three speeches, and the cutting of ribbon, which was cut with a plasma torch because it was made out of steel.

After opening remarks from LATC President Tiffany Sanderson and First Premier Bank CEO Dana Dykhouse, attendees were wowed by a speech from special guest and celebrity Mike Rowe.

This is not Rowe’s first time at LATC; he was previously here six years ago, also for a speaking engagement.

“The progress that LATC has made is extraordinary since I was last here six years ago,” Rowe began his speech by saying.

The then told listeners a personal anecdote—his grandfather, who played a large role in Rowe’s life, was in the trades and he was enamored by the “magic” of fixing something and the “miracle” of brining something back to life. While Rowe wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, he was not graced with that type of brain and his career path led him in different ways.

Years later, while he was managing an evening TV program called “Evening Magazine” in San Francisco, one day, he decided to follow a plumber and mason into the city’s sewers to find out what he did everyday and the art it took to do his job.

After that episode aired, Rowe lamented getting two types of mail: one type of mail he got was from families appalled that he showed something so disgusting on broadcast TV. The other type of mail he got was from tradesmen across the country basically saying “if you think that’s dirty, you should come see my job.”

And that, is how Rowe’s hit show Dirty Jobs began. Over the 300-some-odd episodes the show ran for, Rowe said he loved highlighting exceptional Americans doing real trade work—which is the bedrock of the country—supporting the infrastructure that keeps the country running.

“I came out here six years ago to find out if your students were the real deal,” Rowe said, beginning the conclusion of his remarks. “It turns out, they were.”

Before giving up the microphone, he reiterated the fact that the trades are a viable career path, positions in these trades are in high demand, and in most cases, you don’t need a four-year degree to land a job.

Rowe conclude his speech with the line, “You guys are the next emissaries of the trades. Your success stories will sway future generations away from traditional tracks and into the trades.”