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Photo courtesy of the Putnam County School District – Airgas representatives Scott Carter and Jim Homan talk with Palatka Junior Senior-High School welding instructor Levi Bennet during a visit to the Palatka facility Wednesday.
A nationwide initiative to expand welding career opportunities for people at an early age is helping Crescent City, Interlachen and Palatka junior-senior high schools.
The three schools’ welding programs received donations from Airgas, a company whose officials are assisting 65 high schools nationwide to expand their programs to make sure graduating seniors can be career-ready.
“We haven’t made a big announcement yet, but all three of our welding programs have been awarded $10,000 again through the Airgas High School Welding Initiative,” according to a Facebook statement from the Putnam County School District’s Career & Technical Education Department.
Putnam County School District Superintendent Rick Surrency thanked the company for its support of the local schools, which were three of five Florida schools to be supported.
“Our district has a focus on providing quality (career and technical education) programs for our students,” Surrency said in a text message. “When outside organizations partner with us, it helps us to expand opportunities for students.”
The money provided each program with Airgas equipment, safety gear or other resources the schools need for their welding program, according to the Airgas press release.
“Our goal is to enable and empower students in these 65 deserving programs to fill their potential in a welding career,” stated Jay Worley, the chief operating officer for Airgas.
According to the school district, Airgas representatives visited the Crescent City, Interlachen and Palatka schools earlier this week to get an idea of what each program needed and check on the Arcal Containers, which provide easy installation, safety features and other resources, that each program has been using.
Airgas’ press release said the company selected the schools based on their needs and whether they have a welding program with the potential to produce graduates who are job-ready welders.
The Airgas High School Welding Education Initiative has helped 117 schools and more than 8,000 students across the country, according to the business. About 1,000 students who have graduated from a school program that used Airgas’ help have received jobs after graduating high school, Airgas stated.
The American Welding Society predicts 330,000 welding employees will be needed within four years and that 82,500 will be needed every year through 2028.
“We are excited to work alongside the dedicated schools and teachers in this year’s program, with equipment and (personal protective equipment) manufacturers adding further support,” Worley stated. “Together, we can collectively prepare job-ready welding program graduates and support the communities in which we operate.”
