MCC dedicates gunsmithing lab ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 4, 2011

by Hugh Martin

TROY — During a ceremony Aug. 10, President Dr. Mary Kirk dedicated the Brownell Gunsmithing Lab at Montgomery Community College.

Representing Brownell were Eric Kiesler and Mike Watkins, who were also on campus to teach National Rifle Association classes.

Also present were members of the MCC Board of Trustees, MCC staff members and students.

Wayne Bernaeur, program head of Gunsmithing, spoke of his first meeting with the Brownell family at a gun show in Nashville, Tenn., and the relationship between the college and their company, which grew over the years.

“I was working late one day in preparation for Christmas vacation when a truck came in,” Bernaeur said. “On that truck was four pallets of tools and supplies that Brownells had given us. We still receive boxes of supplies regularly.”

“It is appropriate to name the classroom the Brownells Gunsmithing Lab,” Kirk added.

The lab is furnished with tables, toolboxes and vises, all supplied by the Brownell family.

“They are great friends of the college,” she said. “We now have Brownells Scholarships; they send us equipment and teach NRA classes here.”

Kirk said the Brownells knew that the college needed to redo the Gunsmithing Lab and offered to help.

“We asked for a contribution of a certain amount and they donated more than we requested,” Kirk said.

The Brownells have even assisted MCC students in attending their career fair, which is held in Iowa.

Technicians from the company travel to MCC to teach NRA classes at no charge. Kiesler said that he had actually been an NRA student at MCC 15 years ago.

Bernaeur told of being contacted by Brownells’ President Pete Brownell to see if the college would like to have a CNC milling machine, which sells for tens of thousands of dollars. After some careful deliberation, Bernaeur contacted Brownell to see if a less expensive milling machine could be requested, along with a lathe.

“Pete readily agreed and even placed the order himself,” Bernaeur said.

During the annual MCC Foundation Awards Ceremony, Brownells representatives presented $2,000 to two students in the Gunsmithing program.

MCC has only one other named venue at the college, Blair Auditorium, named for the donor of the property on which the college sits today.

“It’s a special honor to have a room at MCC named for you,” Bernaeur said.