CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- It’s a unique event highlighting high school student’s skills in welding. We are learning more about this hands-on competition, featuring partnerships with local businesses at Cleveland High School. The collaboration is just another example of how the community continues to Drive Our Economy Forward.
Michael Ritchie, Welding Instructor, Cleveland High School says, “So this is our first annual welding competition that we’re hosting. The whole point of this is just to get them to interact with each other. The students, instructors interact with each other; students interact with other instructors and the community. Start making connections early so that when they graduate not only do they have wedding certifications, to prove that they’re competent they’re capable they know the skill set.”
Ray Stiffler, Event Partner, Day & Zimmermann, “We provide construction services at all the nuclear plants, fossil plants, hydro plants. What we’re seeing is a gap with the trades people. Um, that are pretty much 35 to 45 years of age. So, what we did is we partnered with Cleveland High School to host a welding competition. Bring the local union halls with us, that way we’re promoting the unions. But we’re trying to get these kids to uh join the local unions around Chattanooga area.”
Kaleb Stewart, Sophomore, Cleveland High School, says “You’ve got the Pipefitters, you’ve got the Boilermakers. They’re explaining their way of the trade. Um, and how you can progress, um financially as well as knowing what you’re doing uh in the field. And they’re here to help.”
Stewart also said, “With knowing that you can go to a school, and they can help you… a welding school in the seven-month program, you’re not going in debt. You’re investing your time into knowing what you’re doing and learning.”
Ritchie added, “I mean it’s incredible. I mean we’ve all been to school. We know how it is. You hear your teacher day in and day out telling you this is what life is going to be like. This is what you your expectations are. This is what you’re going to have to do. And so having somebody from the outside coming in that they’re potentially going to hire you. And you’re potentially going to have to take that well test for them to get that job. It starts to click for the students, “oh what we’re hearing from our instructor that’s real. This is this is real life. This is what he’s he or she’s trying to set us up for success. And I need to start paying more attention. I, I need to lock in a little bit better”.
Stiffler finished by saying. “Anybody want to get into the construction field, um look up local union halls in the Chattanooga area. There, there’s 11 of them that uh we use at TVA. But there’s probably… there’s more than that. Every one of them does a tour of their apprenticeship halls. And every one of them is willing to help you with getting in.”