June 2019

Page A45 JUNE 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A News Educational ContinueD CCMS Cremation Facility Continued from Page A44 ue of ceremony, and encouraging client fam- ily participation by incorporating the use of a viewing room with slumber bed. We be- lieve this is the best way to prepare students and professionals for the changing needs of client families we serve.” Emphasis will be on the value of the cere- mony and encouraging client family partici- pation using a viewing room with slumber bed. “This is a much more natural and per- sonal setting to visit with the deceased prior to the start of the cremation” Lechner said. “CCMS has set the standard for excellence through death care curriculum since 1882,” notes Lechner. “We continue that legacy to this day and into the future. The enhanced curriculum and ECC expansion ensures that death care professionals emerge with experience in cutting edge technology and a broadened scope of technical experience to reverently serve the evolving needs of com- munities for generations to follow.” The college has already received in-kind and financial support for the ECC. Facultatieve Technologies (FT-USA) is partnering with CCMS to provide the cremation system, auto-loader, and dustless processing station. “Our goal through this partnership is to raise the bar and take crematory operator train- ing to the level of a specialist,” remarked Er- nie Kassoff, sales manager, FT-USA. Lech- ner notes, “We are excited about partnering with FT-USA because they are the manufac- turer of the world’s most advanced and safest cremation systems. FT-USA is not only pro- viding the equipment but also access to their unique technical expertise which contributes to the overall efficiency of the system.” Scott Goodsell, G.H. FORBES Associ- ates Architects has been the lead architect designer. “Scott is a veteran of many funer- al home and cemetery architectural projects and believes in our Educational Cremation Center so deeply that he is providing his ser- vices pro bono,” states Lechner. The International Cemetery Crematory Fu- neral Association (ICCFA) will be partnering with CCMS to design, market, develop, and implement a week-long Advanced Crema- tion Operations Program (ACOP) course for death care professionals. “We have been so pleased with our working relationship with ICCFA providing the Cremation Operator Certification Program (COCP) for the past three years that it was a natural evolution to advance our valued partnership with ICCFA to the next level by introducing an Advanced Cremations Operations Program,” explains Lechner. “One of ICCFA’s cornerstone com- mitments to its members, and part of its mis- sion statement, is to deliver exceptional ed- ucational opportunities, and this will truly be an exceptional educational opportunity,” said ICCFA’s Cremation Programs coordina- tor, Poul Lemasters, Esq., as he shared the news of this newest standard setting certifica- tion program during the ICCFA 2019 An- nual Convention & Expo in Charlotte, NC. CCMS, which is the oldest mortuary col- lege in the United States, recently launched an alumni outreach and corporate donor cam- paign to solicit financial support for the ECC. “The show of support for the new ECC is touching. The energy and enthusiasm of our Board of Trustees, alumni, and business part- ners is inspiring; they realize the benefit and need for an innovative facility and curriculum that enhances cremation options when serving client families. CCMS is eager to be part of making this a reality.” For more information about the ECC and ways you can contribute to the support of the Educational Cremation Center visit https://www.ccms.edu/ecc/ Committed to the success of each student, CCMS offers a rigorous curriculum which exceeds accreditation standards and prepares students to become some of the nation’s lead- ing funeral service professionals. The college, which is the oldest mortuary college in the United States, was founded in 1882 and has been transforming death care education for more than 137 years. The privately-owned, non-profit institution offers both bachelors of mortuary science and associate of applied science degrees, as well as several professional certifications. PIMS Student Activities PIMS Celebrants P I T T S BURGH , PA— Students at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS) have been busy with numer- ous activities. Most recently, the Asso- ciate in Specialized Busi- ness degree class visited the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, PA. Instruc- tor, Mike Burns, makes it a point to take every class to the national cem- etery. The class was met by the cemetery officials where a formal tour and history were provided. Additionally, a new group of PIMS students are now official Certified Celebrants. Burns, who is an Insight Celebrant instructor, certified the new group. As part of the CORE curriculum, every PIMS student becomes a Cer- tified Celebrant. As well, every PIMS student be- comes a Certified Crema- tory Operator in PIMS Cremation Course. SUPERIOR FINGERPRINT KEEPSAKES Become a Partner Today! LegacyTouch.com/Par tners Premium Display Earn-Back Promotion * $ 200 Value *Some restrictions apply.