(MARSHALL) – The Diesel Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College recently received a Waukesha 6-cylinder natural gas engine valued at $12,500.

J-W Power Co. in Longview donated the engine along with its parts book and instruction manual. The company has made donations to the program in the past.

“I think it would make a great engine for students to learn on,” said Plant Manager David Ramaly. Ramaly is also a member of the program’s advisory committee and the statewide Diesel Equipment Technology Advisory Committee.

The industrial engine is used in the field as a generator operated off natural compressed gas.

“As of right now we do not have the stand for the engine built but the engine is on a temporary pallet,” said Wayne Dillon, an instructor and division director for the Transportation and Service Cluster at TSTC in Marshall. “We will need to pipe natural gas to the area the engine will be housed and that will not be available until sometime midterm.”

The donation effort started in October 2015 during a program advisory committee meeting when program staff talked to company representatives. The company sells, leases and services standard and custom natural gas compression equipment and has the largest privately-owned compression fleet in the United States.

“It is always good when industry can give back to those who educate the workforce,” said Ramaly.

TSTC in Marshall offers the Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Equipment Technology Off-Highway Specialization and a Certificate in Diesel Equipment Technology Off Highway Equipment.

For more information on how to make a cash or equipment donation to TSTC, contact The TSTC Foundation at 254-867-3900.

Registration continues for Fall Semester at TSTC. For more information log on to tstc.edu.