Article Photos

ESCANABA - The Bay College Computer Aided Design (CAD) class recently sold the giant skateboard that broke a record in the Guinness Book of World Records for largest skateboard in 2007.

Sunday afternoon this year's class donated $1,000 of the money from the sale of the skateboard to Delta County Special Olympics. The athletes were also able to ride the giant skateboard around the parking lot at the college.

Area I Special Olympics Director Becky Carey said the olympians were thrilled with the generosity of the Bay CAD students.

"Thanks to the CAD students and to Bay College for all their hard work. We really appreciate you guys thinking of us," said Carey.

The skateboard was sold for approximately $9,000 to a woman in Ohio, north of Columbus, who found out about the skateboard on the Internet. She plans to use the skateboard in fund-raising efforts for a skate park in the town. Gene's Towing will ship the skateboard to Ohio. The CAD students have utilized Gene's Towing every time they have had to move the skateboard, which measures 31 feet by 8 feet, replaced the previous record of 30 feet by 9.8 inches (held by three men in Massachusetts) in the Guinness Book of World Records.

CAD class leader Emily Reid said the 2006-07 class that built the skateboard wasn't able to donate money at the time, so this is the completion of that class' efforts.

"Every year (CAD teacher) Jerry (Havill) encourages the class to donate to a couple of local organizations. We enjoy helping people out, and we figured to make it a little more exciting we would have the olympians test the skateboard out," said Reid.

The 2007-08 Bay College's CAD class is building a device for a local, partially-paralyzed man. Josh Bergeon, Gladstone, is attending occupational therapy and aquatic therapy to help him re-learn how to walk after a 2001 car accident damaged his brain and left him with physical limitations.

CAD students came up with a design for a device to help Bergeon onto a treadmill and support some of his weight during physical and occupational therapy treatments. CAD instructor Jerry Havill said a test of the device Sunday went well.

Randy Bergeon, Josh Bergeon's father, said the device is going to help his son's rehabilitation by making it more convenient for him.

"This is working out just great. One of the reasons it will be nice having it at home is he can do it when he feels up to it," said Bergeon.

"If he feels like walking, he can walk."

Havill said Bergeon's insurance allowed him to either undergo therapy at the hospital or purchase a device like the one the class is building. Bergeon chose therapy.

"They certainly didn't want to give up the social aspects and other benefits of therapy. So since the insurance won't cover both, we are providing the treadmill device," said Havill.

The device should be complete by the end of this term, said Havill, at which point the 2008-09 CAD class will begin whatever project they choose to take on.

---

Audrey LaFave, (906) 786-2021, ext. 145, alafave@dailypress.net