ICTC STUDENTS FAIR WELL IN AMERICAN WELDING SOCIETY'S 27TH ANNUAL STUDENT WELD-OFF

(April 18, 2008) . . .  Amanda Gearhart and Mason Griffith, both Marion Center seniors, from the Welding Technology program at the Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC), garnered a fourth and fifteenth place finish in the 27 th Annual American Welding Society’s (AWS) Student Weld-off, held at the Boilermaker Training Center in Pittsburgh. The duo competed against 36 other Career and Technical Education students spanning eastern Ohio through central Pennsylvania. Also as a result of their success at the competition, both students have an open invitation to become members of the Boilermaker Trainee program out of Local Union 154, Pittsburgh.

The level of competition this year was extremely steep. Gearhart’s finish was a mere four points out of first place. A tie breaker was utilized to determine the first two places, while the third place finisher was just one point back. Gearhart, a veteran of this competition, scored high on the written exam, and successfully passed the radiographic (X-Ray) inspection for her vertical up (3G) and overhead (4G) Single Vee grooved plate, utilizing 1/8” diameter E7018 electrodes to perform the certification test.

As a result of her efforts, Amanda was awarded a scholarship from Lincoln Electric to attend an advanced welding class at their facility in Cleveland, OH. The value of that prize is $500. The Pittsburgh Section of the American Welding Society provided Gearhart with a $500.00 cash voucher for an expense allowance during her stay at Lincoln. The value of Amanda’s certification tests, which was provided by the NDT Group, was $1,000. She also received a new Lincoln speed glass helmet valued at $300. The total award value was $2,300 in cash and prizes.

Gearhart recently completed two separate job shadow experiences. The first was at Elkin Manufacturing, in Indiana, and Miller Manufacturing (the former FMC facility), in Homer City. As a result of these experiences, Miller Manufacturing hired Amanda for a cooperative education position which started on Tuesday, April 1.

Mason, in his first experience at a competition outside of ICTC, demonstrated an extremely solid score on the written exam. His marks were higher than the cut score required for a senior student to pass the statewide PA Skills test that is administered to all career and technical education students in the Commonwealth. His radiographic exams were just outside of the code requirements.

ICTC students enrolled in the Welding Technology program are career and educationally focused as exhibited by Griffith, concluding his six-credit, “dual enrollment” with Penn Highlands, receiving college credits for skill sets and competencies that he is attaining at ICTC. He will be attending Penn College®, in Williamsport next fall, where he will be pursuing a Welding Engineering Technology degree. Greg Hancock, Blairsville, and Stephanie Elliott, Indiana, are also dually enrolled at Penn Highlands with six and three-credit courses respectively. Stephanie has also been accepted for the Fall 2008 semester at Penn State, Erie Campus, for Mechanical Engineering. Other ICTC senior student plans include Josh Neese and Garrett Glenn, both Indiana students, who are attempting to gain admission to the Boilermakers Trainee program; Kyle Rider, Homer Center, plans to join the welding workforce locally; Jeff Barlow, Marion Center, is exercising several options, including military service as a boilermaker/steamfitter (Hull Technician) in the United States Navy upon successful completion of the ASFAB battery, or continuing his welding training for an associate degree at Triangle Tech, DuBois campus; and finally Josh McClurg, Blairsville, plans on attending PTI.

Hunter Strittmatter, Homer Center 11 th grader, and first year ICTC student, had a shadow experience with Clark Metal, Blairsville. Together with direct support from management including former ICTC Welding Technology Alumni Tony Strini and James Rura, Hunter was given an opportunity to Gas Tungsten Arc Weld (TIG) during his experience. Clark has been an ardent supporter of ICTC for decades, providing students with job shadow and career opportunities, directly aligned with ICTC’s educational mission of providing a rigorous, high quality education to the students of Indiana County, as they prepare for their chosen career pathways.

ICTC’s Welding Technology program provides direction and purpose for today’s youth through a rigorous academic and technical education, which is the catalyst for becoming a successful, contributing member of our society and global economy.

For more information on the ICTC, click here.

###