By Staff Report
Florida Panhandle Technical College’s (FPTC) Heavy Equipment program and the Washington County School District (WCSD) recently teamed up to deliver a major upgrade for local student-athletes: a new dedicated parking lot serving the Chipley High School and Roulhac Middle School girls’ softball programs.
This project was a true community effort, uniting the WCSD and FPTC Heavy Equipment program around a shared goal of supporting local schools and families. The collaboration highlights how technical training programs can meet real community needs while giving students practical experience on meaningful projects.
The idea for the parking lot moved from concept to completion under the leadership of Kyle Newsom, Director of Maintenance, Facilities & Operations for the WCSD, and Banian Josie, Director of the Heavy Equipment program at FPTC. Their coordination ensured that district needs, safety standards, and instructional goals aligned throughout the project.
Under Josie’s direction, students in the Heavy Equipment program performed all of the work on the new lot, from site preparation and grading to finishing the driving and parking surfaces, gaining job-ready training on real equipment. This hands-on experience allowed students to apply classroom learning directly to a real-world project that will serve local families for years to come.
FPTC encourages anyone interested in their programs to give them a call, noting that Heavy Equipment Operations is just one of dozens of programs they offer that can provide a “Career in a Year”. FPTC can be reached at 850-638-1180, or by visiting their campus to speak with one of their career counselors.
The schools and programs extended their appreciation to Thomas Register, Superintendent of Washington County, and to the Washington County School Board members for their continued support of athletics and career–technical education. The partnership further includes gratitude to Bryan Lee, Director at FPTC, whose leadership helps make community-centered projects like this possible.
In addition, Chipley High School offered special thanks to Tracy Andrews of Florida Power & Light, who serves as External Affairs Manager for Washington, Holmes, Calhoun, Jackson, and Gadsden Counties. Andrews assisted in providing the power poles used to outline and define the new parking area, adding both structure and visibility to the completed project.
“The new parking lot is a game-changer, providing safer, more convenient access for players, families, and fans on game days,” says Coach Alex Webb. “The teams are especially appreciative because they have not had a dedicated softball parking area since Chipley High School opened in 2001, making this improvement both long-awaited and deeply appreciated.”
AMBER PATINO