KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new welding technology program in the Fort Osage School District will offer students a chance to earn a certificate for an entry-level job in the field.
The program began this school year at Fort Osage Career and Technical Center.
Twenty-six students are currently part of the course, including Carter Thielbar.
"Right now, we're just working on cutting metal with a torch,” he explained. "It's hands on. I like the work. It's fun."
Thielbar told 41 Action News that he first became interested in welding after taking a class at Oak Grove High School.
Now a junior, he said he was considering getting a job in the workforce upon graduation.
"I want to go straight up into welding out of high school,” he explained. "It's in a high demand nowadays. It'll be really good for me when I get out of high school.”
Thielbar has hopes of becoming a mechanic in the future and the program offered a chance to prepare for entering the workforce.
"I wasn't really thinking too much about what I wanted to do outside of school until I heard about the welding program,” he explained.
Darren Limback is teaching the course in its first year.
On Tuesday, he told 41 Action News the program offered an alternate plan to college for students.
"A big misconception is kids need to go to a four-year college,” the instructor explained. "A lot of kids can't do that. We need skilled labor."
Currently, jobs requiring welding experience are seeing a big demand.
Limback said offering the program in the metro could help out nearby companies.
"They're all looking for welders. They need welders badly,” he explained. "The Kansas City area is a lot of manufacturing. A lot of companies are looking for welders.”
The new two-year welding program is open to seniors and juniors.
Upon completion of the course, students can obtain an entry-level welding certificate.
