For the first time in Wilsonville High School history, a welding class is being brought in to teach students about a potential hobby, career, and more. The class is instructed by a certified instructor from Portland Community College on the campus at Wilsonville High School. It is a way to hang out with friends, learn more about the techniques of welding, and gain experience with something unfamiliar.
The opportunity to weld takes place between the weeks of December 8 and 19. The experience is free and requires no previous experience. You will be participating in a 10-day program, and each class is one period a day. The scheduled times are Block A: 10-11:25 (LIFE and 2nd), Block B: 12:10-1:35 (3rd and 7th), and Block C: 1:40-3:05 (4th and 8th). However, the completed permission slip needed to be in to Ms. Ann in 112 or Ms. Giese in the College and Career Center by Thursday, December 4th.
The creative engagement specialist here at WHS, Mrs. Ann, says,
“I think helping people see a life after high school is a good way to support their engagement in their current high school experiences. I took a group of female students to a women’s career fair last spring, and I met the woman in control of the welding program at Portland Community College. The instructor also came from PCC and is in charge of the welding class here at WHS.
“There are a lot of students who have an interest in the trades, and we don’t have a lot of CTE classes that speak to different strengths, so I thought it was important to bring this skill and experience to Wilsonville High School.
“33 students are participating, and there were 12 more that wanted to and couldn’t be out of class that long, or the class was full already. We hope it will be a yearly thing, but it depends on grant money available to PCC.”
Welding is a process that joins materials such as metals or thermoplastics together by using heat, pressure, or both to fuse them into one singular solid piece. It is powered by an energy source like a gas flame or laser that will provide the heat and pressure necessary. There are many different types of welding, like arc welding, which uses an electric arc to melt materials and filler rods, and resistance welding, which uses pressure and electric current.
There are many career opportunities open that point in the welding direction. For example, careers that use welding include: diesel mechanics, fabrication, glazing, manufacturing, marine construction, pipe fitting, sculpture, sheet metal, steam fitting, and welding inspection. Additionally, both PCC and CCC offer multiple opportunities for further welding instruction after high school. If you talk to Mrs. Giese, our college and career coordinator, she will fill you in on potential career ideas.
Welding instructor Joey Bottcher shares, “The students are well disciplined and respectful, and very resilient in the midst of all the rain. I am very impressed with our progress so far. They are quick learners relative to the adults I was teaching last week.”
If this piques your interest, you should look into the welding experience and see if there are any additional opportunities provided by the school. For now, the welding program from December 8-19th is closed, but talk to Mrs. Giese or Ms. Ann about some other ideas to get involved in welding for the future.