Marshall Seard, 84, completed the plumbing program at the Mid-Del Technology Center. He received his diploma during the graduation ceremony on May 9. Photos by Cherryl L Seard-Wounded Eye Photography
By Malana Bracht
Midwest City Beacon
It’s never too late to get an education, at least for recent 84-year-old graduate of Mid Del Technology Center Plumbing Program, Marshall Seard.
At first glance, Seard appears to be just like any other man of his years. He has a quiet and calm countenance, his eyes wise from many years of life on this Earth. What you may not notice is that his hands are still strong and weathered from many years of actively working as a tradesman in carpentry, plumbing, and anything else needed to repair, build, or restore homes.
Coming from a long line of generational tradesmen, Seard worked with his father in construction in Mississippi since he was 8 years old. Traveling back-and-forth from Oklahoma throughout his life, Marshall Seard raised six children, many of whom are also in the trades as well.
Though Seard worked in the field his whole life, he always dreamed of earning formal education in plumbing and other trades. Before his wife sadly passed away, he began his journey to apply, take the Accuplacer exam, and gain acceptance to Mid Del Technology Centers Plumbing and Electrician program for adults. He would attend plumbing in the daytime and take his electrician certification courses in the evening.
“I didn’t see anything worthwhile,” he said about other plumbing programs.
As a resident of Oklahoma City, he felt MDTC was his best option to acquire the knowledge of his dreams.
“My instructor [Scott Ringwald] knows his business,” Seard said. “He showed me things I’ve never seen and has a good reputation.”
The courses allowed him to stay up to date on the industry.
“I’ve been doing this all my life, but I knew I needed to get fresh of what’s changing and what’s good and what’s bad,” he said. “That’s why I came into the program…I’m the granddad, sometimes getting on the other fellows’ nerves [in class].”
This one-year plumbing program covers skills such as basic fitting, new construction ground work, top out new construction plumbing, diagnostics and repair service work, and opportunity to attain certificates. By completion of the program, most students have completed two out of three years of apprenticeship for their journeyman test. Class sizes are typically 10-15 students, average age of students around 20 years of age though any age including high school is welcome as long as admissions requirements are passed.
“We pride ourselves in being the cutting-edge program in plumbing in Oklahoma. We do our best to reflect industry standards and constantly upgrading our programs for the next generation of students and those from the preceding generations ready to sharpen their skills,” says Becki Foster, Assistant Superintendent of Mid-Del Technology Center.
Seard walked across the stage in May to a standing ovation from his family, peers, instructors, and school system leadership.
Now graduated, Seard is unsure what he will do next. He plans to continue to share the information he knows and help outside with their plumbing.
“Plumbing is precise. Plumbing is an art. All the trades are,” Seard said. “[To older individuals considering going back to school] Go to school. Take your time in your program and just do it.”
