Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
SHOALS – Shoals High School recently added its 11th career pathway, a welding program that has quickly become popular with students.
A total of 27 students are enrolled in Principles of Welding. The initial goal was 20 students. Another section was added to accommodate interest and there is currently a wait list.
Taught by Ethan Adams, a 2009 graduate of Shoals High School, students are receiving hands-on training in a supervised setting.
Teacher Ben Kent, who leads the agriculture and construction pathway programs at SHS, said students had expressed interest in starting a welding program in the past, but a lack of space in the shop room and lacking the necessary equipment were issues that prevented the school from adding a welding program.
Several months ago, the high school received a donation of a welder and a plasma cutter through a partnership with NSWC Crane and the USSOCOM Mobile Technology & Repair Complex.
That donation was the catalyst to starting a program. Two used welding machines were purchased and new electrical outlets were added to the shop room.
“Space was the biggest challenge. The shop room was full, but we were able to take out some things we don’t use on a daily basis to make room for welding,” Kent said.
When teaching his construction classes, Kent said students would ask about learning to weld.
“We knew the need was there and the desire from the kids was there,” he said. “And if you look around the community, many trades are needing welders.”
With enrollment numbers exceeding expectations, Adams, who initially planned to teach a few hours, has a full schedule teaching the class.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, average hourly wage for a welder was $23.53 an hour in 2023. In Indiana, there were 13,190 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in 2023. The annual mean wage for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers was $49,330.
