Sumner County Grant Program Provides Toolboxes for Cowley College Students

Four Cowley College Main Campus students from Sumner County are one step closer to achieving their career goals thanks to a generous initiative supported by Sumner County and Snap-on Tools. On Thursday, December 12th, these students received professional-grade toolboxes filled with high-quality tools essential for their trade programs, such as welding and automotive technology.

The initiative was made possible through the Sumner County Grant Program, which secured funding to provide tools for students. Snap-on Tools partnered with the grant group to supply individual toolsets tailored to meet professional standards through their Student Excellence Program. This program allows significant discounts on student tools, making the initiative cost-effective while providing exceptional resources for career readiness.

Welding and automotive students from the Cowley College Main Campus in Arkansas City were selected through a competitive application process. Additionally, 17 students from Cowley College Wellington and Mulvane campuses who reside in Sumner County also received the Snap-On tools.

Each toolbox was wrapped like a Christmas present to make the moment more memorable. Upon unwrapping, students discovered an extensive collection of tools, including hammers, hacksaws, metric and standard sockets, socket wrenches, and more. These tools, which would typically be expensive if purchased independently, were specifically chosen to meet the needs of the welding and automotive industries.

Paul Zimmerman, Snap-on Account Manager, highlighted the importance of the toolboxes, saying, “These are the tools required for their trade. These tools will give them a leg up when they apply for a job.”

Jim Ailey, an Automotive Instructor at Cowley College, expressed excitement about the program's impact sharing, “This is an exciting time for us. This gift gives our students a chance to start a career with some good-quality tools.”

Ricky Squires, Lead Welding Instructor, added, “They got pretty much everything they need to go out on the job right away.”

This partnership between Sumner County, Snap-on Tools, and Cowley College underscores the importance of equipping students with the tools they need to succeed. By investing in career readiness, these organizations support individual students and strengthen the local workforce and community.

Unfortunately, no additional grant money is available at this time. Sumner County is working to renew the grant, and if approved, additional funding could become available in the spring.

Cowley College remains committed to providing quality education and training opportunities that prepare students for success in their chosen careers. Through community partnerships like this one, Cowley College continues to meet today's workforce needs while fostering individual student growth.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu