West Monona students are attending the Buss Regional Center/Iowa Western Community College in Missouri Valley. These students are enrolled in the Welding Technology Program. The Welding Certificate program prepares students to enter into the industry as beginning production, maintenance, or job shop welders. A welder takes various metal components and uses intense heat to fuse them together to form a final product. Thus, they must have the strength and skills to manage welding equipment. Students are trained in the latest techniques in fabrication of materials by welding processes. The Welding Certificate is designed to teach fundamental techniques and principles. The classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and materials. This career pathway also provides for an overview of related topics, such as metallurgy and fabrication layout, estimating and repair. Students will be awarded a certificate after successful completion of the course. Students who complete this certificate will earn credit toward completion of the Welding Technology Diploma. If the student wishes to continue in the welding program, they may continue in a welding program after high school at one of the area community colleges. After completing a postsecondary training program, they can be employed in numerous industries, including construction, steel, aerospace and motor vehicles, each of which may depend on their level of expertise. The students attending this program from West Monona are: Lauren Jones, Ryan Koenigs, Caleb Schild, and Connor Yanke.
“This class is packed full of information every day teaching you new things. I started off knowing
barely anything and only a couple weeks in I know a lot. We are learning new things for wire
and stick welding.” Lauren Jones
“So in welding class, I've learned how to properly set up my welding machine for wire welding and stick welding. I like how we only have to be lectured for about 50 minutes every day. Then the rest of the time we can go into the shop and weld. I would definitely have more people sign up for welding. It's a good trade to get into if you don't want to go to 4-year college.” Caleb Schild
“The class goes from 8:00 to 10:30. We are learning Mig and Stick welding. I like that the week
is split in half and we are learning Mig for the first half and stick for the last half of the week.”
Conner Yanke
“I am really glad I took this class. I have met new people and our instructor is really cool.” Ryan
Koenigs