Sampson Community College will host a reception for the dedication of the Ammonia Refrigeration Facility on Wednesday, May 19 at 3 p.m. This program is the newest addition to the campus and will be open for enrollment in June 2010.

This is an exciting day for school officials as well as the N.C. Community College System as SCC is the only school in the world with a certified RETA instructor on-hand to assist with the delivery of a curriculum that will integrate all safety and training standards.

SCC has enlisted the services of John Sherrill, founder and CEO of Sherrill and Associates, to assist with instruction and training as the program gets underway. Sherrill, one of the first to achieve the RETA Authorized Instructor certification, will provide high-quality training that will focus on safety and the improvement of operational and maintenance competency and enhance the program. Sherrill also serves as a director of the Education Committee for RETA, the Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association. This is an international group of individuals and companies involved in the design, operation and service of industrial refrigeration systems.

Ken Braswell, department chair of the Ammonia Refrigeration Program, says he is eager to work with Sherrill. “Having John Sherrill on board provides instant credibility to the validity of this program. We’re excited to provide hands-on industrial ammonia refrigeration training in an environment where students come first. As the only school with a certified RETA instructor, our program will follow the Ammonia Refrigeration Training Guideline as provided by the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration and RETA. All aspects of our instruction and training will incorporate operating safely, energy efficiently and meeting all regulatory requirements.”

According to Sherrill, there are currently 30,000 ammonia operators nationally, but only 800 are currently RETA Certified. Sherrill says it is crucial for operators to successfully complete their credentials for RETA Certification. “I am really pleased to help bring the next generation of this hands-on training facility to enhance industrial training and certification completion.”

The reception and tour of the facility is free to the public and all industries involving the handling of ammonia, such as food storage, pharmaceuticals and cold storage warehouses are urged to attend. Kennon Briggs, Executive Vice President of the N.C. Community College System, will be the keynote speaker for the event. For more information about the Ammonia Refrigeration Program, contact Ken Braswell at 592-8081, ext. 7013 or visit www.sampsoncc.edu to register for upcoming training classes.