A ‘Girls-Only’ trade class at Oregon’s Sherwood High School attracted over 120 students, which was double the expected enrollment. The class is called ‘Imagine, Design, & Build It, No Boyz Allowed’ and goes by the acronym NBA.
The class, which has been offered since 2009, teaches girls about welding, computer technology, and woodshop. Although women make up 3% of trade workers in America, the classes have provided a supportive environment for young girls who want to learn more about trades and to get a jumpstart on a future career.
In fact, many girls begin to plan out their careers by the time they reach junior high, so the timing of this girls-only course is particularly critical in helping them plan their future. Instructors have found that girls tend to defer to boys in mixed environments. A girls-only class provides opportunities for girls to build confidence and to experiment with new trades.
As welding continues to provide new job opportunities for men and women, there’s a notable increase in education opportunities for welding jobs.
Welding Jobs
Alabama’s Calhoun College Expands Welding Program to Meet Job Demand: Welding instructor Zeb Ferguson has over 150 students enrolled in the program, including dual enrollment students from Decatur and Hartselle City Schools. Around 60 new students, like Edwards, joined the program just this year.
“Everybody is starting to see how big of demand it is and how much it actually does pay just to get your hands dirty,” said Ferguson.
Ferguson said with enrollment increasing and a high demand for welding jobs in the area, Calhoun is in the process of adding over 30 new welding booths and equipment so students can get the hands on experience they need to fill those high demand, high paying jobs.
Missouri Company Enrolls 5 Students in College Welding Class: East Central College recently awarded certificates of completion to participants in its first Introduction to MIG Welding program. Five students completed the eight-week program, which was held in the Warrenton High School welding lab.
The training included OSHA10 certification, a National Career Readiness certificate and five weeks of welding instruction One local manufacturer, Warrenton Steel, enrolled current employees in the program so they could gain welding knowledge to assist the company in machinery repair.
Welding Education
Skowhegan Area High School Students Place First and Second at Somerset Career & Technical Center 15th Annual Craft Championships: The event was hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine at the Augusta Civic Center Nov. 21. Nathan Morris placed first and Austin Clemons placed second in the second-year welding students competition.
Tennessee College of Applied Tech Adds Welding Program: The Welding and Pipefitting Technology Program came to TCAT-Clarksville in July and currently has 13 students enrolled… Welding is a 14- to 18-month program with certification through the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER) and a curriculum based on the American Welding Society and several other organizations. It gives students skills in welding techniques, print readings, measuring, grinding, cutting, fabrication and installation.
Texas High School Students Compete for Welding Supplies and Scholarships: Young welders were competing for scholarships at Odessa College Saturday during the college’s first annual Weld-Off. High school students from around West Texas participated in the competition and tested out their welding skills.
Over $2,000 worth of welding equipment were given to the schools along with $600 in scholarships for high school welders, who might have a bright career ahead of them.
Welding Events
IBSC Conference, April 19, 2015: Now in its 6th Year, the IBSC remains the premier event for the brazing and soldering community. For years, the IBSC has provided professionals, scientists and engineers involved in the research, development and application of brazing and soldering, a unique networking and idea-exchange forum. This three-day conference provides cutting-edge education and technical programming for the brazing and soldering community, as well as peer-networking and a full exhibit program, showcasing the latest trends, products, processes and techniques available in the industry.
Welding Gone Wrong
Iowa Welding Student Hospitalized: A Hawkeye Community College student is being moved to an Iowa City Hospital after suffering severe burns Tuesday morning.
The identity of the student and other details weren’t available, but Kathy Flynn, a Hawkeye spokeswoman, said the student was injured during an accident in the college’s welding lab, apparently during a class.
Welding Supplies on Sale
Now that you know what’s going on in the world of welding, visit Baker’s Gas and Welding for the latest deals in welders, welding safety gear, and welding supplies.
