Gateway Technical College marked its Centennial Celebration and the honor of being the country's first technical college with a day-long program on Tues., July 12.

Speakers at the celebration Tuesday afternoon praised the thinking that made public technical education possible. Some of them urged protection for technical education spending.

Launched in 1911, the Racine Continuation School was the first publicly funded school focusing on practical and technical skills such as drafting, cooking and machining. Today, Gateway’s Racine campus is part of a statewide, 16-school system that serves about 400,000 students. The school has about 26,000 students at campuses in Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties.

The speeches and presentation of a commemorative plaque was part of an all-day celebration at the campus, 1001 S. Main St., that included a picnic, student-led campus tours, displays in the parking lots and a free concert.

“It’s education’s time. It’s time to support and nurture it. Education is not an entitlement. It’s a decisive weapon in global competition,” said Nick Pinchuk, Snap-on Inc. chairman and CEO, who drew a standing ovation.

Noah Brown, Association of Community College Trustees president and CEO, called technical and community colleges “the real economic development agencies.”

He added that budget cuts affecting public tech schools throughout the country are “a mistake in my view and must be changed.”

Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) representing the Wisconsin Legislature at the event, pointed out that the current state budget has reduced tech school funding by 30 percent. “It’s important that we redouble our efforts to support technical education," he added.

And Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig said that locally based training programs in CNC, welding and machine repair wouldn’t be possible without Gateway.

“You are truly serving the community by providing the services the community needs,” he said.

But before those speakers appeared, the event’s highest-profile guest—Governor Scott Walker—was drowned out by hundreds of protesters who were unhappy with the recently approved budget and legislation that eliminated most collective bargaining for most public sector workers.

Many, wearing red T-shirts emblazoned with “Solidarity,” chanted “RE-CALL WALKER” and “SHAME, SHAME, SHAME” as the governor took the stage. Fists raised, they continued to chant and filed out of the seating area while the governor made his brief remarks.

Gateway and city officials were prepared for the protests. About a dozen Racine Police Department officers plus private security and the governor’s state security detail were on hand. One protester was physically removed while the governor was on stage.