The month of April is recognized as National Welding Month. It is an opportunity to recognize the hardworking men and women whose career as skilled welding professionals plays such a vital role in our nation’s economy. From pipelines to automotive factories to bridges, ships and refineries, welders are behind the scenes melting and fusing.
LCC’s West Campus offers welding programs with hands-on training in a state-of-the-art facility with the latest equipment and technology to prepare students to enter the field ready to work. A partnership with Lincoln Electric, a leading manufacturer of welding equipment, ensures students have the most advanced equipment to train on, with updates to equipment every two years.
As the demand for skilled welders grows, it is estimated that America will need some 277,000 welders by 2020. Women are projected to be a big part of this new workforce. More women than ever before are seeking careers in welding, but this was not always the case.
On a Facebook post celebrating women in welding, one of LCC’s Facebook friends, Liz Homer commented that she had always wanted to weld, but the opportunities were not available for women at the time. She stated she was happy to see the change and wished it wasn’t too late for her. This comment really touched the faculty and staff at LCC and we were determined to provide her with an opportunity to weld. With the approval of Mark Cosgrove, dean of technical careers at West Campus, we invited Liz to tour our facilities and have an opportunity to weld!
Liz’s day started out with Roger Morrison and Scott Poe, LCC lab techs, who gave her instructions on the virtual welding equipment, and then it was on to suit up for some real welding with Cathy Lindquist, LCC welding instructor. Liz was all smiles as she got to hold the equipment in her hand and fuse pieces of metal together.
“Meeting Liz and introducing her to the world of welding was an experience I will always keep with me,” said Jennifer Fenning, technical careers program improvement manager. “It was truly an honor to help her accomplish something she had always dreamed of doing.”
Her day finished with being awarded a certificate as Honorary Student of the Day. Liz was thrilled at the day’s events and expressed what a wonderful time she had, and thanked LCC for “making her dreams come true.”
To learn more about LCC’s welding programs visit lcc.edu/weldinginfo [lcc.edu].
About Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College, founded in 1957, is the fifth-largest community college in Michigan, serving more than 25,000 students across a six-county area each year. LCC offers courses in general education for those interested in transferring to a four-year institution, career and workforce development, developmental education and personal enrichment. To meet the professional development and training needs of regional employees, the college offers customized programs for credit, non-credit and continuing education. The University Center at LCC offers students the opportunity to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from five partner universities on the downtown LCC campus. For more information, visit lcc.edu.
Source: PRESS RELEASE
