***What are your personal goals and aspirations in the trades, and how will this scholarship help you achieve those goals? My interest in welding started three years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David, or “Pa,” as our family lovingly calls him. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld, and it piqued my interest. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had ever been exposed to. While in high school, I attended the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical for two years. Through this program, I discovered my preference for hands-on work more than anything else. I toured a local welding fabrication company to gain knowledge of one possible work environment. I understand this is a labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I am determined to succeed in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very hard worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. I am excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry. I am currently attending my 2nd year at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the high living, tuition, and equipment costs, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the number of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. It will also allow me to work in an internship program to improve my professional experience. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled, certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand, hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I believe there are many facets to a successful life. Working in a field that I love, being able to support a family, having a good work/life balance, becoming a respected professional in the trade, helping others succeed, always keeping a positive mindset, being a positive role model in my community, and maintaining a good relationship with friends, family, and coworkers. I know I will be successful because I am young and have everything to look forward to in this life. I am willing to put in the work, both professionally and personally. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join an exciting career path in an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started three years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David, or “Pa,” as the family lovingly calls him. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld, and it piqued my interest. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had ever been exposed to. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled, certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand, hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the high living, tuition, and equipment costs, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am attending my 2nd year at Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the number of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. It will allow me to work in an internship program to improve my professional experience. While in high school, I attended the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical for two years. Through this program, I discovered my preference for hands-on work more than anything else, and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding fabrication company to gain knowledge of one possible work environment. I understand this is a labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started three years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David, or “Pa,” as the family lovingly calls him. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld, and it piqued my interest. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had ever been exposed to. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled, certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand, hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the high living, tuition, and equipment costs, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am attending my 2nd year at Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the number of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. It will allow me to work in an internship program to improve my professional experience. While in high school, I attended the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical for two years. Through this program, I discovered my preference for hands-on work more than anything else, and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding fabrication company to gain knowledge of one possible work environment. I understand this is a labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started three years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David, or “Pa,” as the family lovingly calls him. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld, and it piqued my interest. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had ever been exposed to. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled, certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand, hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the high living, tuition, and equipment costs, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am attending my 2nd year at Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the number of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. It will allow me to work in an internship program to improve my professional experience. While in high school, I attended the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical for two years. Through this program, I discovered my preference for hands-on work more than anything else, and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding fabrication company to gain knowledge of one possible work environment. I understand this is a labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started three years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David, or “Pa,” as the family lovingly calls him. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld, and it piqued my interest. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had ever been exposed to. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled, certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand, hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the high living, tuition, and equipment costs, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am attending Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the number of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. It will allow me to work in an internship program to improve my professional experience. While in high school, I attended the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical for two years. Through this program, I discovered my preference for hands-on work more than anything else, and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding fabrication company to gain knowledge of one possible work environment. I understand this is a labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started three years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David, or “Pa,” as the family lovingly calls him. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld, and it piqued my interest. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had ever been exposed to. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled, certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand, hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the high living, tuition, and equipment costs, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am attending Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the number of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. It will allow me to work in an internship program to improve my professional experience. While in high school, I attended the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical for two years. Through this program, I discovered my preference for hands-on work more than anything else, and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding fabrication company to gain knowledge of one possible work environment. I understand this is a labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started three years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David, or “Pa,” as the family lovingly calls him. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld, and it piqued my interest. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had ever been exposed to. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled, certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand, hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals. I have been working hard to save up for college, but with the high living, tuition, and equipment costs, my part-time jobs haven’t been enough. I am attending Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. This scholarship will help by lowering the costs of college and the number of hours I’ll need to work throughout my studies. It will allow me to work in an internship program to improve my professional experience. While in high school, I attended the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical for two years. Through this program, I discovered my preference for hands-on work more than anything else, and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding fabrication company to gain knowledge of one possible work environment. I understand this is a labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were very intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had been previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in various industries. I found out shortly after, that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country, and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently attending Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. While in high school, I attended 2 years of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center and graduated with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. Through this program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand this is a very labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, have strong technical math skills, and have a drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college program, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. I appreciate your consideration and am extremely excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest in welding started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smell were very intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had been previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in various industries. I found out shortly after, that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country, and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently attending Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. While in high school, I attended 2 years of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center and graduated with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. Through this program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already studied welding in high school, plan to complete my degree before joining the workforce, my strong technical math skills, and my drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning new information and skills. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college program, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. I appreciate your consideration and am extremely excited to join this exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest started a few years ago when my Grandfather David, "Pa", showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment. He let me try a simple weld and it piqued my interest. I started to research welding and the opportunities available. I also see it as an opportunity to use my skills and travel around the country. Since 80% of manufactured goods use welding and nearly every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a certified welder. I want to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I can join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. I am currently attending Johnson County Community College and pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this career path and industry takes me. While in high school, I attended 2 years of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I graduated with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and metal fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands attention to detail. I am a very hard worker who maintains a positive attitude as I learn to perfect this new skill. Tragedy struck my family in February 2020. My great grandmother, Lucy, passed away just shy of her 90th birthday. I was very close to her all my life since moving to KS when I turned 2 years old. My sophomore year of high school was in full swing, and I was preparing for my first track meet. Suddenly, more confusing and disappointing news came. We were all sent home from school and the WHO declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. I started to feel very isolated and fearful as my family and I took the pandemic very seriously. There were many unknowns and we still had several elderly members to protect as best we could. The return to “school” was strange. Classes were all online, long, and tiring. Hands-on classes like photography and architecture were minimized to basic classes that involved reading many articles. In December 2020, I lost my great grandmother’s brother, Ernie, whom I had grown up with to Covid complications within a week of him becoming ill. Sadly, my family could not visit him or have a proper funeral. This was a low and very scary time for me. Brighter days were ahead as mass vaccinations became available, in-person classes became an option, and at least some face-to-face interactions became somewhat normal again. I was very excited to get back to hands-on learning like welding and horticulture, foster new friendships, attend counseling sessions, and start to recover from the anxiety that we all experienced. Since I am young and full of grit, I know I have my whole life ahead of me. This is what pushes me to persevere through the tough times and end up where I am now, looking towards a bright and adventure-filled future.

My interest started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding on his farm to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smell were very intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something that I was previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in many industries. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I also saw it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country, and perhaps the world. Since 80% of manufactured goods use welding and almost every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I can join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently a high school senior in my 2nd year of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I will graduate with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands attention to detail. I am a hard worker with a positive attitude who feels I can succeed in this trade. After graduation, I plan to attend Johnson County Community College in the fall and pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college program, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I appreciate your consideration and am very excited to join an exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smells were intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something that I was previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in many industries. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. Since 80% of manufactured goods use welding and almost every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I can join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need in my community. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently a high school senior in my 2nd year of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I will graduate with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands attention to detail. I am a very hard worker who maintains a positive attitude as I learn to perfect this new skill. Through my hands-on work-based learning experiences, I understand what is important to future employers. I practiced welding techniques using matching equipment and technology. I learned how to use shop machinery, along with cutting and grinding tools. I worked as a team member on a hay bale cage to collaborate with others as we read a blueprint, planned the best build method, and worked together to adjust our processes. Through my experiences, I have gained critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By teaching others and sharing knowledge where my skills are stronger, I am learning leadership skills that will be important in a future job. Managing time effectively, punctuality, prioritizing tasks, acting responsibly with equipment and others in mind, will also be important in a professional work environment. While analyzing and solving problems through my work, I feel I have improved my technical math skills, including measurements and blueprints. My strength of being able to work independently will also be an asset to future employers. After graduation, I plan to attend Johnson County Community College and pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else. I appreciate your consideration and am excited to join an exciting career path within a vital building and manufacturing industry.

My interest started a few years ago when my Grandfather David, "Pa", showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment. He let me try a simple weld and it piqued my interest. I started to research welding and the opportunities available. I also see it as an opportunity to use my skills and travel around the country. Since 80% of manufactured goods use welding and almost every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a certified welder. I want to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I can join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. I am currently a high school senior in my 2nd year of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I will graduate with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands attention to detail. I am a very hard worker who maintains a positive attitude as I learn to perfect this new skill. After graduation, I plan to attend Johnson County Community College and pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this career path and industry takes me. Tragedy struck my family in February 2020. My great grandmother, Lucy, passed away just shy of her 90th birthday. I was very close to her all my life since moving to KS when I turned 2 years old. My sophomore year of high school was in full swing, and I was preparing for my first track meet. Suddenly, more confusing and disappointing news came. We were all sent home from school and as the WHO declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. I started to feel very isolated and fearful as my family and I took the pandemic very seriously. There was a lot of unknown and we still had several elderly members to protect as best we could. The return to “school” was strange. Classes were all online, long, and tiring. Hands-on classes like photography and architecture were minimized to basic classes that involved reading lots of articles. In December 2020, I lost my great grandmother’s brother, Ernie, whom I had grown up with to Covid complications within a week of him becoming ill. Sadly, my family couldn’t visit him or have a proper funeral. This was a low and very scary time for me. Brighter days were ahead as mass vaccinations became available, in person classes became an option, and at least some face-to-face interactions became somewhat normal again. I was very excited to get back to hands-on learning like welding and horticulture, foster new friendships, attend counseling sessions, and start to recover from the anxiety that we all experienced. Since I am young and full of grit, I know I have my whole life ahead of me. This is what pushes me to persevere through the hard times and end up where I am now, looking towards a bright and adventure filled future.

My interest started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smell were very intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something I had been previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in various industries. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I also saw it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country, and perhaps the world. Since 70-80% of manufactured goods use welding and almost every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a skilled certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I could join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently a high school senior in my 2nd year of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I will graduate with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands high attention to detail. I will be successful in this trade because I have already been studying welding in high school, plan to continue my studies before joining the workforce, my strong technical math skills, and my drive to perfect my technique. I am a very industrious worker who maintains a positive attitude while learning to perfect this new skill. After graduation, I plan to attend Johnson County Community College and pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college program, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I believe there are many facets to a successful life. Working in a field that I love, being able to support a family, having a good work/life balance, becoming a respected professional in the trade, helping others succeed, always keeping a positive mindset, being a positive role model in my community, and maintaining a good relationship with friends, family, and coworkers. I know I will be successful because I am young and have everything to look forward to in this life. I am willing to put in the work, both professionally and personally. I appreciate your consideration and am extremely excited to join an exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding on his farm to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smell were very intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something that I was previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in many industries. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I also saw it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country, and perhaps the world. Since 80% of manufactured goods use welding and almost every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I can join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently a high school senior in my 2nd year of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I will graduate with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands attention to detail. I am a very hard worker who maintains a positive attitude as I learn to perfect this new skill. After graduation, I plan to attend Johnson County Community College and pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college program, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I appreciate your consideration and am very excited to join an exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding on his farm to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smell were very intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something that I was previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in many industries. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I also saw it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country, and perhaps the world. Since 80% of manufactured goods use welding and almost every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I can join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently a high school senior in my 2nd year of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I will graduate with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands attention to detail. I am a very hard worker who maintains a positive attitude as I learn to perfect this new skill. After graduation, I plan to attend Johnson County Community College and pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college program, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I appreciate your consideration and am very excited to join an exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.

My interest started a few years ago during a visit with my Grandfather David or “Pa” as he is lovingly referred to by the family. He showed me how he uses welding on his farm to maintain his farm and equipment in rural Holton, KS. He let me try my hand at a simple weld and it piqued my interest immediately. The bright lights, sparks, crackles and pops, intense heat, protective gear, and distinctive smell were very intriguing and new! Growing up in the city, this was not something that I was previously exposed to at any point. I started to research welding and the opportunities available in many industries. I found out shortly after that my high school offered a 2-year program at the local Technical Center. I also saw it as an opportunity to use my skills to travel around the country, and perhaps the world. Since 80% of manufactured goods use welding and almost every trade needs a welder, I plan to become a certified welder where many job opportunities will be abundant in the upcoming years. I knew I wanted to be part of a high-demand hands-on career where I can join the workforce faster by attending my local community college trade school program. I understand that as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country, I will be able to contribute my skills to a critical need. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), new skilled welders will be needed to replace retirees and meet rising demand from natural gas drillers, steel producers, automakers, and more. I want to fill that growing need and be part of the solution. I am currently a high school senior in my 2nd year of the Welding Technology Program through Olathe Advanced Technical Center. I will graduate with an AWS SENSE Entry Level Welder I Certificate. I have toured a local welding and fabrication company to gain knowledge of one type of work environment. I understand that this is a very labor-intensive career that demands attention to detail. After graduation, I plan to attend Johnson County Community College and pursue an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding. By starting my career sooner than others attending a traditional 4-year college program, I hope to secure stable work experience and grow my future career skills and opportunities faster. Through my high school welding program, I discovered that I prefer hands-on work more than anything else and I can’t wait to see where this industry takes me. I appreciate your consideration and am very excited to join an exciting career path within an important building and manufacturing industry.