Page 23 - HIWT Spring 2013 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

WElDING FUlFIllS A CHIlDHOOD DREAM

By Neil Mansfield, AWS CWI/CWE, vocational teacher,
blacksmith artist, and retired U.S. Navy Seabee.

It seems that it was too not long ago that a young man named
Cam Belinskas arrived at the front door of Assabet Valley
Technical High School Metal Shop. But it has been four years
and Cam, now a senior, is much closer to his graduation day.
His childhood dreams of becoming a welder and fabricator
have become a reality.

Cam’s excitement for welding began long before he arrived
at Assabet Valley Technical High School. You see, Cam’s
grandfather is a Vietnam War Veteran who learned how to
weld and make things out of metal while serving his country
as a U.S. Navy Seabee in the 1960’s. Cam’s grandfather
would bring Cam to his shop in his small, one-car garage and
introduce Cam to a world of welding. It was a way for them to
spend quality time together while passing down traditions of Cam created a bouquet of roses with a forge and
making things with a welder’s torch. welded vase for his Mom.

“It was a cool thing to see the sparks and fire while melting
two pieces of metal together,” said Cam. teacher would enjoy having in their shop because he is
respectful, kind, funny, and compassionate towards other
As an eighth grader, Cam had an opportunity to tour Assabet students.
Valley Technical High School and to consider enrolling into
the next year’s freshmen class. As Cam’s eyes came upon Since Cam’s grandfather was a U.S. Navy Seabee Veteran,
the metal shop and saw, from a distance, sparks flying from Cam has signed up to serve meals for the homeless veteran’s
a welder’s torch, he knew then what shop he wanted! He shelter in Worcester, Massachusetts. Cam has also volunteered
felt right at home, as if he was working alongside with his to be a student team leader that will design, fabricate, forge,
grandfather and hearing his grandfather’s voice, through the and weld a metal sculpture to honor fallen homeless veterans
welder’s helmet, explaining the art of making a weld. Cam at the Homeless Veterans reflection pool in their court yard.
was thrilled and willing to do whatever it took to become a You see, Cam is a young welder that has a wonderful talent to
skilled welder. create beautiful things out of many types of metals. So when
Cam gets an opportunity to have a free project day in the shop,
As we fast-forward four years, Cam has mastered all phases of he puts his creative juices right to work and produces some of
the metal / welding program here at Assabet. He can fabricate the most impressive decorative ironwork that a professional
sheet metal, weld light and heavy gauge sheet metal, problem- metal worker would make.
solve, and take his projects from a blueprint sketch to final
assembly. Cam holds several AWS welding certifications in What Cam has done at Assabet Valley Technical H.S. is make
stick, MIG and TIG. He has applied himself well enough himself a marketable young man who is ready to accept any
through his unwavering hard work ethic to complete the work challenge that today’s welding industry has to offer. Cam is
that has enabled him to pass several sheet metal structural scheduled to go on a school-to-work program, known as co-op
certifications in aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steel. employment in Massachusetts. Cam will be working with a

Prior to his TIG certifications, Cam passed his structural steel local national defense contractor that fabricates, machines, and
plate tests in all three positions and currently is working on welds parts for military jet engines.
pipe welding and pipe layout.
It was Cam’s grandfather who planted the seeds of welding
Cam has developed and fined-tuned his metal fabrication and many years ago and it was Cam who grew into a strong, honest,
welding skills to a comfortable level where he moves with and skillful young apprentice welder. Job well done and the
swift, accurate, and deliberate speed while working on each best of luck for Cam and all of the young men and women who
of his projects in our shop. Cam is the student that any shop have taken up the passion of welding metal things together.

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