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Jim Gorman of the Gorman Family Foundation along with Jeff Gorman, Brandon Hall, Scott King, David Daniels and Mark Kreinbihl from Gorman-Rupp in Mansfield were named the 2015 Ralph Phillips Business Partners of the Year at the 10th annual awards dinner at Pioneer Career and Technology Center in Shelby on Wednesday, March 4.
This prestigious award is given to an area business that has demonstrated support for Pioneer and its programs, students and alumni. It was renamed in 2010 in honor of the late Ralph Phillips, President and Owner of Phillips Manufacturing and Tower Company, the first recipient of the award. The criteria for this award are designed around the attributes we most admired in Mr. Phillips.
Martin Dzugan, Manufacturing & Adult Ed. Supervisor and Chris Karl, Precision Machining Technologies instructor both nominated Gorman-Rupp. Dzugan stated, “For as long as I have been employed at Pioneer, Gorman-Rupp has partnered with Pioneer to provide both secondary and post-secondary students with ‘real-world experiences.’ They have donated materials and resources to be used for both adult education and secondary students. They have hosted shadowing opportunities, field trips, and internships for our students as well as our staff. Many of their employees make sure our programs are teaching skills that are in demand in industry, and an updated curriculum by serving on our program advisory and curriculum committees. Gorman-Rupp has been an integral part of our educational community.”
Karl commented, “The support they provide me and my program are vital. They have donated a lot of tools and hosted trips. They also serve on my advisory committee and support our program through donations such as buying materials for our lab trailer.”
Superintendent Greg Nickoli added, “The Gorman Family Foundation has generously funded scholarships that will help 27 different students attend the college or university of their choice. They are not only partners with Pioneer but with our entire community.”
Gorman-Rupp’s family of pump companies offers a wide selection of pumps and pumping systems for many fluid-handling applications. Ranging in diverse sizes from fractional horsepower pumps to the largest of flood control pumps, Gorman-Rupp pumps are in continuous duty around the globe. Since 1933 when Herb Rupp and J.C. Gorman started the Company, Gorman-Rupp has been dedicated to producing a quality product, delivered on time, backed by reliable service, at a profit that provides an equitable return to our shareholders as well as providing our employees with competitive wages and benefits.
Pioneer students in Culinary Arts and Hospitality prepared and served a special dinner, and Horticulture students created table centerpieces which honorees took home with them as a memento of the evening.