Page 9 - HIWT Spring 2011 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

COMPETITION

(Continued from page 8)

The students were judged by certified welding inspectors from
area industries on a wide range of proficiency tests which in-
cluded 75 individual welding tests in shielded metal arc weld-
ing (SMAW) and gas metal arc welding (GTAW).

“The contest is organized by students,” said John. “Local
vendors support the event through gifts and prizes. The mon-
ies collected from entry fees are used for prizes for the top six
places.”

“This event assisted all full-time welding students to measure
their learning achieved in one year from WITC. It helps to
build self-esteem, quality of workmanship, team-spirit and a
lasting memory of success that we provide for our students
through our college,” John continued. “The event builds re-
lationships with our neighbors in Ontario and especially has
helped melt the State border division that has existed between
the two welding programs at WITC and Lake Superior Col- John Palmer stud welding and checking welds while making
lege.” repairs on a stainless steel industrial clothes washer
as he worked on a volunteer project in New York.
John Palmer’s program is enhanced by his own background
along with assistance from the great resources that are utilized
in the WITC welding program.

“We use exclusively Hobart teaching materials, John ex-
plained. “We incorporate all the DVD and video resources
and workbooks. We developed our curriculum to mirror the
quality of the Hobart Institute pro-
gram.”

John’s own training included the Gas
Tungsten Arc Welding Basic, Gas
Tungsten Arc Welding 2-inch Pipe,
and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Tita-
nium courses at Hobart Institute to
enhance his skills. His international
experience consisted of a four-year
apprenticeship at Rolls Royce Ltd. in
North London, UK, and working as a
welder in Germany, France, and the
U.S. Also before beginning his teach-
ing career in August 2000 at WITC,
John worked for five years in the Tac-
onite mines in northern Minnesota.

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