Scholarship To Support Skilled Trades Students
A new scholarship will give students in skilled trades programs at Western Piedmont Community College a firm foundation for learning.
John and Janice Rostan III established the John and Janice Rostan Skilled Trades Scholarship with the Western Piedmont Foundation this fall. The scholarship provides four $1,250 scholarships per year to students studying skilled trades in the building construction technology program at WPCC. Programs of study include carpentry, masonry, electrical technologies, HVAC, plumbing and green construction principles. Funds will cover tuition, books, fees, tools and supplies.
Janice Rostan said she was made aware of the dire need for skilled contractors in the area during some recent home renovations. She and her husband, John, already had a relationship with the Western Piedmont Foundation through scholarships funded by the Rostan Family Foundation.
“Through the years, John and I both have served on various boards, including the Western Piedmont Foundation board,” Janice said. “We have long admired the educational opportunities WPCC offers to young and older residents of Burke County and beyond. When we heard about the skilled trades program that was being added to the academic offerings of WPCC, we were thrilled. This program will provide well-paying jobs to those who are willing to commit the necessary time and effort.”
John is a lifelong resident of Valdese and worked in his family business, Waldensian Bakeries, which was one of the largest privately owned bakeries in the country before it was sold to Bimbo Bakeries USA. Janice, a native of Mint Hill near Charlotte, married John in 1966 while they both attended college. They settled in Valdese following their graduation, where Janice worked for “The Valdese News” newspaper and eventually became editor.
John and Janice have volunteered in the community for decades. John served on the board of directors for Valdese Hospital, Burke County Public Library and Northwestern Bank through several mergers until it became First Union, when he served on the audit committee at the First Union main office in Charlotte. He also served on the Valdese Planning Board and tutored students at Rutherford College Elementary School. Janice previously volunteered at Valdese, Rutherford College and Hillcrest elementary schools and served on the board of directors of Hospice and Palliative Care of Burke County. She currently serves on the board of Burke United Christian Ministries.
When Janice learned that WPCC was addressing the need for skilled trades training through its Regional Skilled Trades Solutions Center, she arranged to take a tour this summer.
The 17,000-square-foot center opened in 2023 to provide state-of-the-art instruction in a variety of construction skills. During the tour, Janice and her son, Mark, had the opportunity to speak with students and faculty members, and were treated to a demonstration of the heavy equipment simulator by Terry Adams, coordinator of vocational programs.
“When Mark and I toured the attractive new building, we were surprised how quiet it was,” Janice said. “Then we went out back and saw the program in action. It solidified our desire to put scholarship opportunities in place. Without HVAC technicians, plumbers, electricians and all the other jobs supporting the building industry, our world would come to a screeching halt. The costs of tuition and textbooks shouldn’t stand in the way of someone who wants to build a career.”
Michael Daniels, WPCC’s dean of applied technologies, who oversees the building construction technology program, reflected on how this scholarship opportunity will impact students.
“There is a huge and growing demand in the region and the country for skilled construction tradespeople,” Daniels said. “Our new and improved Regional Skilled Trades Solutions Center, our improved and expanded curriculum and our credentialed faculty are now preparing the next skilled trades workforce. Many of our current and prospective students face major financial challenges in completing our coursework and credentials. The John and Janice Rostan Skilled Trades Scholarship will be part of the financial solution for our students. This scholarship will likely be a life and career changer for the students who are awarded.”
To learn more about the John and Janice Rostan Skilled Trades Scholarship, visit wpcc.edu/foundation. To learn more about the building construction technology program at WPCC, contact Bert Guynes, coordinator, at bguynes@wpcc.edu or 828-448-6139.