Schools
Lincoln-Way Central, East Students Earn Certified Welder Status
Welding Occupations classes are available to students starting their sophomore year.
FRANKFORT, IL — 11 students at Lincoln-Way Central and East have received their Certified Welder status. As part of the last quarter of the school year, students from the Welding Occupations 2 and 3 classes have been working on the American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Steel Code Specifications welding certification test, the district said.
Welding students completed destructive tests on welding coupons, that in order to pass, had to meet both visual inspection and acceptance criteria from a guided bend test. The official test may only be conducted by a Certified Weld Inspector that is accredited through the American Welding Society, according to the district.
Teacher Daymon Gast oversaw the process for the students. He received his AWS CWI credentials four years ago to be able to better serve his students and to help them become prepared for the welding trades.
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"The AWS D1.1 code specifications provide both students and CWI's with specific measurable criteria for passing the test. Students who pass the test receive a Stamped Certificate that holds value to the owner and makes an impact on potential future employers,” said Gast.
Gast notes that there were many students who attempted, but only these 11 passed the test. To pass, students must be proficient not only on their welding ability, but also be proficient on their workmanship and preparatory work.
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At Lincoln-Way, the district said Welding Occupations classes are available to students starting their sophomore year.
“More and more students are considering a career in the trades as college prices have increased dramatically and because of the worker shortages in the trades. Students can earn a very good living with several great benefits,” said Gast.
Lincoln-Way East students who earned a certificate are: Alex Jansen, Matt Gorczynski, Anthony Latronica, Mario Brcik, Adam Hudson, Gage Palmer and Devlin Lynch.
Lincoln-Way Central students are: Seth Sidler, Vaughn Clymer, Wyatt Grady and Liam Rohn.
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