Three Generations of the Wattersons: A Southeastern Regional Family Tradition

Recent Southeastern graduate Mariah Watterson isn’t the first member of her family to graduate from Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School. The 2016 Metal Fabrication major has followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, Alan Watterson, and her father, Jeffrey Watterson, both Machine Technology graduates. “My father and grandfather were excited when I decided to major in Metal Fab because there are a lot of jobs in the trade area, a huge skill gap that needs to be filled,” Mariah said.

It began in 1971, when Alan Watterson, a member of Southeastern’s first graduating class to have spent all four high school years at the high school, graduated from the Machine Technology program. “I was one of the students that went up and worked on the dust collector that remained outside the building until recently,” he recounted. “My class was the first to be trained in computerized machinery that’s now used every day in business. Since graduation, I’ve been an excavating contractor. My son, Jeffrey, worked for me in the business for a number of years, then my granddaughter Mariah came along and worked with both of us as she was growing up.” Forty-five years later, Alan still keeps in touch with his Machine Technology teacher, Mr. Dominic Arena.

Twenty-three years later, Alan’s son, Jeffrey Watterson, continued the family legacy by choosing to attend Southeastern’s Machine Technology program. The 1994 graduate participated in the school’s cooperative education (Co-Op) program and continued working at the Double E Corporation in Bridgewater after completing his high school years. “I was a machine technologist and set up the machines,” he said. “I felt Southeastern was an excellent school, and recommended it to my daughter Mariah, a hands on person, as the best form of education as compared to a regular high school.”

Most recently, Mariah graduated with a major in Metal Fabrication. “Going through the Freshman Exploratory Program, having my Dad and Granddad in the business, then really liking Metal Fabrication in general and my teachers, I chose it as my major,” said Mariah. “My dad always worked on his own personal vehicles, repaired his own equipment and taught me about it. Both my Dad and Granddad worked in the trade right after high school, and my Grandfather is now a general contractor who still uses his metal fabrication knowledge on his own equipment. My Dad now works for the Town of Sharon as a heavy equipment operator,” she added.

Next month, Mariah will be entering the Navy where she hopes to work on airplane welding repair. “My time at Southeastern and my Co-op job taught me the basic knowledge I needed about welding to give me a basis to build off of in the military,” she said. “I’m looking to make the military a career, then start my own business doing welding sculpture when I retire someday.” Mariah, President of her SkillsUSA chapter, recently earned a silver medal in the SkillsUSA District competition with her welding sculpture of combat boots with flags, a memorial to one of her grandfathers who served in the military.

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School is a public 9-12 vocational high school located in South Easton, Massachusetts, serving approximately 1372 students from Brockton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxboro, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, Stoughton and West Bridgewater.