Sussex Tech offers welding and fabrication career education
Sussex Technical High School offers a six-credit welding and fabrication career technical education program.
Utilizing the American Welding Society curriculum, the program concentrates on welding fundamentals of safety and health, drawing and welding symbols, thermal cutting, and the four types of arc welding. Arc is a fusion welding process used to join metals.
Welding certifications are offered through the AWS Schools Excelling through National Skills Education program. Students can study welding and/or fabrication.
Students concentrating on welding learn all four types of arc welding during their sophomore year. As juniors, students test and receive certification in two of the four arc welding processes.
In 10th grade, students who concentrate on fabrication utilize a simulated workplace to learn to use various equipment for cutting, drilling, shaping and bending, read blueprints, fabricate and weld.
After completing the program, students can continue their education through the Sussex Tech Adult Education Apprentice Program, earn a degree from a postsecondary institution, or become certified welding inspectors, educators, supervisors or engineers.
Recently, the Delmarva section of the American Welding Society created a student chapter at Sussex Tech High School to provide classroom guest speakers, plant tours and networking for employment opportunities. In November, the newly sanctioned Delmarva AWS chapter hosted a student tour at The Metal Works in Delmar, which fabricates high-quality weldments using steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. The Metal Works also creates custom monster trucks.
“Program enrollment is full this year, and we expect this trend to continue. With numerous job openings in the field, we anticipate employment opportunities for all of our senior work-based learning students,” said Christian Kipp, welding and fabrication instructor.
“The image of welding is rapidly changing, no longer the place of dirt and smokey shops. Today’s welder must be able to navigate the complex equipment of the modern welding facility. The use of laser cutting equipment, computerized forming and rolling equipment as well as being able to produce high-quality weld deposit will be part of the modern welder. Welding equipment today is not the equipment of just 10 years ago; introduction early into the training plays an important part of welding success,” said Biazzio “Bill” Giordano Jr., American Welding Society Delmarva Chapter chair.
Sussex Tech is a public school which prepares Sussex County students in grades 9-12 for their future success in both higher education and workforce environments.
