I have always been around welding and understood what it was, and I really started to take a full interest in learning to weld when I was about 13. I would always be out in the shop with my Dad or my uncle working on projects and learning how to weld. I looked forward to my 2 shop classes in school so I could work on projects or practice different positions with all of the methods of welding. Both my Junior and Senior years, I competed in FFA welding competitions as our TIG welder and finished fairly well. Over the summer of my junior year, I attended a week-long welding camp and got to see a lot of very cool work places and learned tricks and tips from the instructor to further my skills. It was about that time that I decided I wanted to try and make myself a metal bracelet out of TIG wire. The first few I made were a little rough, but I kept working at it and now I have quite a few different bracelet designs. A lot of people asked me about them, and wanted me to make them one. I realized that I can turn this into a little side business to do in my free time and it was more fun than anything because of how much I enjoyed being out in the shop. Because of the high quality of my bracelets, this side business has really taken off. Without even advertising, I’m getting orders left and right. I absolutely love welding and look for different projects to do that let me use my skills. I was also very fortunate that I was presented the opportunity to intern in the welding department at a local business that builds fire trucks. I have had a blast every day I'm able to go and have learned tons of things that will come in very handy in my future. It showed me what it’s actually like to work in the welding industry. I also had a chance to job shadow a certified weld inspector, and learn about what job opportunities are out there if you put in the work to get your CWI credentials. After being involved in welding and seeing the art involved in the trade, I am 100% sure that welding is the industry I want to be in, and there is a need for workers not just in my area, but all over the country. My goal is to become a Certified Weld Inspector (CWI). I applied and have been accepted into the welding program at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE for the fall semester, and will earn an Associate's Degree when I graduate from that program. After graduating from SCC, I plan to find a job in a custom fabrication shop until I am eligible to take the exam to earn my CWI credentials. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a strong work ethic, often choosing to work instead of goofing off. I am motivated to succeed in the welding industry, and have had this goal ever since I got bit by the welding bug. I am currently planning to pay for my college expenses myself, and winning this scholarship will help with those expenses.

I have always been around welding and understood what it was, and I really started to take a full interest in learning to weld when I was about 13. I would always be out in the shop with my Dad or my uncle working on projects and learning how to weld. One of the first big projects I helped my Dad with was fabricating a way to put a bale carrier in the bucket of the tractor so we weren’t constantly hooking and unhooking the bucket to put the bale spear on. After that, I was always out in the shop, making things to use on the farm or helping repair equipment. I always looked forward to my 2 shop classes in school so I could work on projects or practice different positions with all of the methods of welding. I even got asked to repair some iron stair railing where my Mom works, when it broke. Both my Junior and Senior years, I competed in FFA welding competitions as our TIG welder and finished fairly well. Over the summer of my junior year, I attended a Welding camp in Aurora, NE and got to see a lot of very cool work places and learned tricks and tips from the instructor to further my skills. It was about that time that I decided I wanted to try and make myself a metal bracelet out of TIG wire. The first few I made were a little rough, but I kept working at it and now I have quite a few different bracelet designs. A lot of people asked me about them, and wanted me to make them one. I realized that I can turn this into a little side business to do in my free time and it was more fun than anything because of how much I enjoyed being out in the shop. Because of the high quality of my bracelets, this side business has really taken off. Without even advertising, I’m getting orders left and right. I absolutely love welding and look for different projects to do that let me use my skills. I was also very fortunate that I was presented the opportunity to intern in the welding department at a local business that builds fire trucks. I have had a blast every day I'm able to go and have learned tons of things that will come in very handy in my future. It showed me what it’s actually like to work in the welding industry. I also had a chance to job shadow a certified weld inspector, and learn about what job opportunities are out there if you put in the work to get your CWI credentials. After these few years of being involved in welding and seeing the art involved in the trade, I am 100% sure that welding is the industry I want to be in, and my goal is to become a Certified Weld Inspector. I know there is a need for both welders and CWI's, not just in my area, but all over the country. I have been accepted into the welding program at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE. I have always enjoyed welding and I am so fortunate that I have been exposed to the things that I have and it steered me in the direction that I’m headed. I feel very confident that I’m going to have lots of fun being a welder for a career and I know that the opportunities are endless for what I can become in this industry.