Page 3 - Spring2019

Spring 2019
Testimony . . . Welding Testimony

Growing up with my aunt and uncle, they sent me to church every Sunday.
On particular Sundays, they would open with prayer and then it was
testimonial time where individuals would come forward, get on stage and
step up to a microphone. Once there they would take 1 to 5 minutes or
longer and share their testimonies about church, life, beliefs and anything
that came to mind that was important for them to share. During this time,
I tried my best to listen but I often caught myself disinterested and hungry.
Looking at the clock every other second it appeared that time had frozen and
this testimony thing would never end.
Until now, more than 30 years later, did I realize the importance of
testimonies and what they mean. When one has such a strong belief and
passion for something in their life, you want to share with as many people
as you can. You want to profess or make an open/public acknowledgment.
In the case of welding, the welding industry, and welding education, the
term testimony has a tremendous meaning. With the overwhelming
shortage of welders we need people to enter this incredible feld. For those By Scott A. Mazzulla, President
of us already well into our careers, we must share our own testimonies with
the public in order to inspire. We see this at HIWT every day. Every instructor Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
here at the Institute educates through stories of experience, classroom
lectures and actions in the booths under the hoods. They inspire every day to every student they touch. In essence they give
testimonies more frequently then they realize.
Recently our Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Chip Prinz (HIWT Alum) said to a visitor at the Institute that Scott graduated
from Hobart Institute but he never brags about it. That really hit home and sat with me for a full week; and I had concluded
that he was correct. The term bragging he was referring to was a form of testimony and being proud about my choice to attend
HIWT and the career it provides was something to profess or make an open/public acknowledgment.
TESTIMONY: This HIWT education and industry has given back to me tenfold. Its delivered me a lifelong skill that has brought
so many opportunities and introduced me to some amazing people. The privilege to lead this prestigious school puts my career
testimony into perspective. Thanks to go around to the people I have met are not enough, however paying it forward to the
amazing students by providing them the best welding education possible is a driving factor. It allows them to develop their own
testimony so that they can inspire the next generation of welders.

Testimony
noun

tes· ti· mo· ny | \ 'te-st - mo-ne \
'
Defnition of testimony
1a : a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under
oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public offcial
b : frsthand authentication of a fact : evidence
c : an outward sign
2a : an open acknowledgment
b : a public profession of religious experience

www.welding.org - 3 - 2019 SPRING ISSUE