412th AMXS brings 'Howlin' Dawg' to Center of Excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mike Young
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  By rolling up their sleeves and getting down to the nitty-gritty, a group of volunteers recently turned a vacant room into a fully-restored educational haven for local students. 

Donating more than 1,000 volunteer hours, the 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron helped clean up the Center of Excellence and adopted a room which they turned into the "Howlin' Dawg" room -- named after their mascot. 

Located in the Center of Excellence, the "Howlin' Dawg" room is one of many rooms that will be used by the Muroc Joint Unified School District for tutoring and mentoring, gifted and talented student programs and additional clubs associated with the high school. 

The facility will also be available for students from North Edwards High School, Boron 
High School and middle school students. 

Volunteers started renovating the room by stripping the walls, repairing the drywall and restoring the stained windows, said Staff Sgt. Cyril Pierre, 412th AMXS orderly room noncommissioned officer. They also painted and decorated the room. 

"We had to paint the room twice to cover the old military beige color," said Tech. Sgt. Ronald Herrera, 412th AMXS first sergeant. "Extensive time and detail was put into the project so the children would have a comfortable, healthy environment for learning." 

The maintainers also received artwork, decorations and furniture from various base organizations such as Club Muroc and the graphics shop. 

About 30 people volunteered their time and effort during a two-month period. 

"We have made substantial improvements to the room, but we are still not finished," Sergeant Herrera said. "There is brand new furniture on the way and a few more finishing touches that need to be made." 

Aside from the "Howlin' Dawg" room, the Marine Aircraft Group 46 Detachment Bravo here, 95th Communications Group, 95th Medical Group and the International Test and Evaluation Association also adopted rooms. These rooms will complete the school district's wing of education assistance in the Center of Excellence. 

"I am so thankful for these people and what they have done," said Cathi Cleveland, Muroc School Improvement Partnership president. "Without the help of all our volunteers, none of this would be possible." 

The school district's portion of the Center of Excellence will include a quiet room equipped with computers and other research aids. It will also feature an office area, which consists of three rooms for before and after-school studies and a multi-purpose room for vocational studies such as culinary arts, drama and choir. 

"With 60 tutors and more than 100 children from the base and the surrounding communities in need of tutoring, this type of facility is essential," Ms. Cleveland said. 

Tutoring in the rooms began Monday but the official grand opening of the restored rooms is scheduled to be in January due to the holidays, she said. 

"This is an amazing opportunity to give to the local community and our children," Sergeant Herrera said. "The contributions of those involved pushed this project above all expectations. It's an amazing accomplishment."