Page 15 - Hobart Institute Fall 2019 World of Welding

HIWT Instructor Elmer Swank Receives

AWS /WEMCO Excellence in Welding Award
®
By: Melinda Jeffery
Elmer Swank, instructor at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology Scott Mazzulla, President/CEO of Hobart Institute states “Elmer’s
received the Excellence in Welding Award, Educator Category at straight forward low key demeanor has impressed thousands of
the FABTECH show in Chicago, IL on November 13th. Elmer is a students with his knowledge, wit and commitment. We have
1969 graduate of Hobart Institute of Welding Technology. He is often laughed at suggested comments about needing to record his
an AWS® CWI®, CWE®, CWS®. He spent his first years of his teaching sessions or clone him, when the reality is there is no other
welding experience in the procedure lab at Hobart Brothers. In Elmer Swank. Over the course of his career he has stepped up to
1971, he came back to HIWT working in the certification lab. In take on supervisory roles even though it was not in his comfort
1973, he became a Skill Training Instructor and has been teaching zone. However in doing so it was amazing to see the respect he
ever since. In 1989, Elmer transferred and became a Technical obtained from the team he led and the admiration of his team and
Training Instructor teaching portions of the AWS® CWI class, and students. He has stood in front of multiple large classes of CWI
then the entire class where he has become one of the most well- hopefuls for over 30 years preparing them for the rigors of a three
known educators in the industry. Elmer has taught every class part exam and it was not an easy task. These classes of students
offered at HIWT except two (which were not offered when he was are very experienced and diverse. It certainly takes an extraordinary
a Skill Instructor). Elmer wrote a column for Practical Welder Today individual to offer and deliver a high level of student success.”
called “Ask Elmer” for four years where he answered welding Chip Prinz, Director of Corporate Services believes Elmer Swank
related questions to those who wrote in. He continues teaching is definitely deserving of the AWS® 2019 Excellence in Welding
the CWI® class as well as other technical training classes. Elmer Award – Educator Category. He states “Elmer is the only one that I
believes teaching the AWS® CWI® class is his “real purpose” personally know that has helped, educated and positively affected
stating that it helps the welders he teaches serve the welding so many students in welding related topics in such a professional
industry. Elmer has dedicated his life to the instruction of welding, manner, including myself”.
from teaching those who have never welded before to those who
are advancing their careers by becoming a CWI® to those who live
in the trenches of the welding industry. Being in welding for half
a century, Elmer states that the “innovation of modern welding”
he has seen in the past 50 years excites him and he knows the
field of welding will continue to evolve long after he is gone.
The consummate professional, Elmer wows his classes with his
immense knowledge in the field, his experiences, and his ability to
convey material in a manner students can understand and relate
to. Whether teaching TIG basic to a new welder or inspection to
a seasoned professional, Elmer Swank has shaped the minds and
skills of decades of welders.

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