D228 Students Explore 'Welding Works' Program

It may come as a surprise to find the lights are on late into the evening in the Oak Forest High School metal shop. That’s where more than a dozen District 228 students are coming together from all four district schools every Thursday night. What is even more surprising is to find that what they are doing is work – hard work with metal, welding torches and industrial machines. It’s a newly established career exploration program called “Welding Works,” which was founded this year so that District 228 students could learn more about welding and materials processing. These students are getting hands-on career activities in a growing industry that is actively looking for the next generation of specialists. All of the students were fitted with their safety gloves, helmets, visors and jackets by Cut-Weld Supply, Inc., of Bridgeview. The purchase of this life-safety equipment was sponsored by an industry partner via the career Exploring program. With 60 programs in the region that connect teens with industry leaders to explore a wide variety of careers, Exploring brings together business and education partners to help keep the cost of the programs such that all students may have the same opportunity to get a jumpstart on a career and postsecondary education. That partnership was formed when the Exploring program sought to help bridge the gap between the classroom and real-world, real-time experiences. For its inaugural year, Welding Works advisors include Dan Brown, Industrial Technology teacher; Jay Wasilewski, a certified and licensed welder from Certified Welding of Palos LLC; and local jewelers Bryan Blaha and Ryan Karp. While Welding Works is a mixture of fun and advanced learning about welding and metals, it can also serve a greater purpose for the students who achieve a certificate of competency through this program’s lessons, competencies and tests. Renee Mack, Career Readiness Coordinator stated, "These students have a fantastic opportunity. Through an agreement with South Suburban College the students who can demonstrate the necessary welding skills will be able to advance to the next level of certification in welding saving the students time and money." Dan Brown, OFHS Industrial Technology teacher, said, “It is rewarding that we are able to provide our students this apprenticeship program as it may become the foundation for a very successful career.”