Page 14 - Summer 2014 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

HARVEST TIME

Samuel Colton, Professor of Welding I ask myself...for all the companies who say they need
Arizona Western College, Yuma, Arizona welders...where they are at harvest time each May when
students graduate?
Well friends it’s that time of year when welding programs all
over the country are getting ready for the final training days The link below to an article about the shortage is a good one,
at school with young men and women who have worked very its speaks to the need for more welders but I think it is missing
hard to learn the art and science of metal joining. Many are the fact that there are a lot of wonderful young people who
college age adults, some former veterans of our armed forces are not getting that first break to work in welding because
but all have a passion for welding. As you read this message companies think that they are supposed to find them in their
ask yourself if you are one of the thousands of companies in hour of need when both are looking for the same thing…
America crying about the welder shortage or are you one of someone who loves the work and some place to love working.
the companies that will contact welding programs like mine to I hope you will contact your local high school or community
ask how you can hire some of our students for the summer or college today and visit the welding program in your area to see
hire one of our dedicated graduates who has been dreaming of firsthand what you are missing.
working for a company just like yours.
Its harvest time and there is a bumper crop of talented young
I watch our young students cutting, grinding and tacking up people who are job ready. It’s not business as usual because
their AWS D1.1 test plates and weld them again and again these students are better than any that have come before. Stop
until their skills are solid, reliable and repeatable. I watch our by anytime at our program and see firsthand why I believe in
young host our AWS Student Chapter meetings, SkillsUSA our young welders and recommend them to you to solve your
champions practice for upcoming competitions and I marvel skilled welder workforce shortage.
at the homework, research papers, visual presentations and
love of metals and the welding of them that our students Link: http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post--the-us-is-running-out-of-
demonstrate. How proud I am of these young Americans! welders

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