Vice President Joe Biden praises Renton Technical College during visit

Published 4:49 pm Thursday, October 9, 2014

Vice President Joe Biden made an appearance Thursday at Renton Technical College, celebrating the college’s receipt of multiple federal grants that have expanded programs at the school and helped get people back to work.

“What you’re doing is you’re building dreams here, man,” Biden said. “I mean that.”

The Vice President’s appearance was part of a day-long visit to the Seattle area that included a fundraiser for Sen. Maria Cantwell, as well as a tour of some of RTC’s classrooms and machine shops.

Renton Technical has received two separate grants as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program, which has awarded more than $450 million to 270 community colleges across the country.

The most recent funding will go to creating apprenticeship programs to connect students at the school with potential employers. Biden called the apprenticeships a “pathway back into the middle class” and drew on his background as “Middle Class Joe” and said “the middle class is hurting” but was optimistic about the outlook.

“We can do this folks, we really can,” he said, calling community colleges “the country’s best kept secret” and telling the audience that his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, was back in Virginia teaching at a community college while he spoke.

Biden was introduced by James Cantway of Renton, a 34-year-old student in Renton Technical’s property maintenance program. Cantway said he volunteered to introduce the vice president, who related to Cantway’s experience as a single father and encouraged him not to give up in getting his education.

“It was a great experience,” Cantway said after.

Biden praised Cantway for going back to school at his age.

“Imagine the courage it takes,” Biden said.

Prior to his brief remarks, Biden took a short tour of the college with RTC  President Steve Hanson, Renton Mayor Denis Law and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Biden called the aerospace program “incredible” and met a handful of those going through it.

According to the vice president’s remarks, 700 students have enrolled in programs made possible by the grant funding and 550 have already graduated, with 150 of those going to Boeing.

Hanson called the day “a great experience for students.”

“It affirms why we’re here,” he said.

Law agreed and said the visit was “confirmation” of the success of RTC’s programs. He also said it was great to see Biden interact with the students and also called it a “big deal” to have have the vice president come to Renton to highlight the college.

“Renton Technical College is one of the crown jewels of this city,” Law said. “They don’t just talk about it, they make a difference here.”