Page 17 - HIWT Summer 2018 World of Welding
P. 17









            Just a Man and His Dog
            By: Melinda Jeffery

            Mike Shapiola, a retired US Army Reservist from South Bend, IN   good enough to satisfy his standards and decided to take a class in
            recently attended a Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG) Basic class here  TIG to get better.
            at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.  Having both active duty
            and retired veterans attend school here is not unusual.  However,   When Mike frst got here for orientation, I will admit I was
            Mike was the frst to have a service animal with him.  Hunter,   pretty thrown off, stated Melinda Jeffery, Marketing and Career
            Mikes service dog, is a lovable 5 year old black Labrador Retriever.    Development Manager.  It was the frst time I had encountered
                                                               a service animal here at the school and I wanted to make sure
            Mike was a Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (retiring as a   Hunter was properly protected.  Mike explained that he had taken
            Warrant Offcer) and was deployed 4 times  2 in Iraq and 2 in   welding classes in different locations and Hunter had his own
            Afghanistan.  Shortly after returning from his last deployment   goggles. Mike said that everyone has been very accommodating
            in Afghanistan in 2013, Mike was granted a medical retirement,   and helpful concerning Hunter and has never had any problems
            after serving as a reservist for 16 years.  Mike now works for   attending a class.  He encourages anyone with a service animal
            the Department of Defense in South Bend, IN as a heavy mobile   to attend classes.  You just need to let the school know what
            equipment repairman.                               accommodations you need stated Mike.  The instructor here has
                                                               been great accommodating Hunter.
            In his spare time, Mike got into the building bicycle frames.  After
            building one with a steel frame, he decided his welds were not   HIWT thanks Mike and Hunter for their service.









































                                Veterans Training

                                Hobart Institute of Welding Technology is approved by the Ohio State Approving Agency for
                                Veterans Training (the G.I. Bill® educational training for non-disabled or vocational rehabilitation
                                for disabled veterans).  Contact the Hobart Institute Financial Aid Ofce at 937-332-9500 ext 9604
                                or e-mail fnancial@welding.org.
                                Hobart Institute of Welding Technology was voted Military Friendly for 2018.


                                                                               www.welding.org - 17 - 2018 SUMMER ISSUE
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