Kagome Foods Donates $25,000 Toward ANC's New Center for Allied Technologies

Photo by Chris Thomas of Thomas Photography
Arkansas Northeastern College President Dr. James Shemwell (left front) is presented a check for $25,000 toward ANC's new Center for Allied Technologies by (L to R) Kagome President and CEO Luis DeOliveira, Karen Belk, Filler Operator, and Nita Reams, Director of Human Resources and Safety.  They are joined by other Kagome employees on the ANC Main Campus, Friday, October 20, 2017.

Arkansas Northeastern College’s Center for Allied Technologies project received another boost from local industry today as the Kagome Foods Corporation presented a check for $25,000 to ANC President Dr. James Shemwell today.

Since 1899, Kagome has been crafting healthy, delicious sauces, spreads, juices and more.  Kagome Foods, Inc. produces sauces and vegetable oil based food products primarily in food service and industrial sectors. It offers various products in portion control packages. The company is based in Osceola, Arkansas.

“We have long considered Kagome a friend of the College and greatly appreciate not only this generous gift, but the past support they have shown to us,” said ANC President Dr. James Shemwell who noted that the company contributed $10,000 in 2007 to establish a scholarship fund at ANC.

For their donation to the new facility, Kagome will have naming rights to a computer classroom. “We look forward to seeing the name ‘Kagome’ in the new Center for Allied Technologies,” added Shemwell.

Construction of ANC Center for Allied Technologies began this spring and is scheduled to be completed in time for Fall classes in August 2018.  The facility will provide students with more opportunities to learn in an atmosphere that will simulate real world work environments, where spaces and equipment are designed with the curriculum in mind. This facility will be a focal point for not only the campus, but the community as the 88,000 square foot building will boast beautiful architectural lines with the highest technological advances incorporated into the plans. 

Kagome has a positive history of working with Arkansas Northeastern College. “Our College and our community are so very fortunate to have tremendous partners like Kagome,” said Shemwell, citing a long relationship with the company that includes extensive training for Kagome employees by ANC. Shemwell also noted that Kagome’s investment marks the Center’s third corporate partner with Japanese roots, along with Nucor-Yamato Steel and DENSO.

"We are very proud to be a part of the community, we value our employees and we are very proud of the team in Osceola, where we have been for 10 years. We have a tremendous respect for the Arkansas Northeastern College who has been instrumental in training some of our employees over the years,” said Luis DeOliveira, President and CEO of Kagome. “Happy to be able to invest in such a great learning institution.”

The Center for Allied Technologies, to be located on the ANC Main Campus, will actually decrease the College’s overall facilities by 30,000 square feet by consolidating the Burdette Center, Harry L. Crisp Center, and the Aircraft Metals and Engineering Center—with an estimated costs savings for the College of approximately $100,000 a year in maintenance.  This new facility will feature a headquarters for the College’s customized training force—The Solutions Group, including general purpose classrooms, electrical classroom & lab, mechanical classroom/lab, safety classroom/lab, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Classroom & Laboratory, computer classroom, and large multi-purpose room. Additionally, a world-class welding laboratory will be available for students.

Technical-Secondary Center students from area high schools also will be served by this facility through classroom & laboratories for advanced manufacturing, welding, criminal justice, education, and construction/carpentry.  The design incorporates a computer lab for the Technical-Secondary Center. Also featured is an aircraft hangar/lab, combination non-destructive testing (NDT) & composites laboratory, and general purpose classrooms to fully accommodate ANC’s Federal Aviation Administration—certified Aviation Maintenance Program.