11 VGCC Welding Students Earn National Certification
Eleven Welding Technology students at Vance-Granville Community College continued a tradition among welding students at the college by passing the national certification exam July 14.
Since the program began at Vance-Granville in 1972, 534 welding students have been certified, according to Bill Jones, program head and instructor for Welding Technology.
The 2005 welding class, 10 of whom will graduate on August 9, took the American Welding Society practical exam on the main campus, and their test welds were sent to Professional Services Inc. of Greensboro for X-ray testing. Michael McGraw, laboratory supervisor for PSI, said all 11 test welds by the VGCC students were excellent and passed the national criteria for certification.
The 11 welders received licenses certifying them in three welding positions: unlimited wall thickness, plate and pipe fillet, and plate and pipe groove welds.
Gaining certification and qualifying to become members of the American Welding Society are Cameron Jones and Sedrick Boyd of Henderson, Alonza Spruill and Tenell Reynolds of Kittrell, Chris Rollins of Franklinton, John Williamson, Eric Smithson and Robert S. Boothe Jr. of Oxford, Harry L. Carden Jr. of Creedmoor, Ronnie Bailey of Butner and Juston Nicholson of Warrenton.
Earning the national certification means the 11 VGCC students are qualified for welding positions anywhere in the United States. They are also qualified for possible Multi-Skilled Technician certification. To attain this, they must complete two or more vocational programs with high grades. Becoming Multi-Skilled Technicians enhances their employability.
Two of the newly-certified students have already been hired and are working as welders in Henderson industries. Many VGCC welding graduates are employed in well-paying jobs throughout the country, including several at the huge Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Virginia.
Harry Carden, spokesman for the 2005 class, had high praise for the VGCC welding program and for Bill Jones. “The welding shop has all the equipment and supplies that are need to complete the course,” he said. “Mr. Jones worked with each student to make sure each of us received our AWS certification.
“I would like to thank Mr. Jones for the help and support that he gave me, not only in the shop but also in the classroom,” Carden said. “This helped me stay on the Dean’s List and maintain a 4.0 average.”
Anyone interested in Welding Technology, which is conducted as both day and evening programs, or in the Multi-Skilled Technician program, may contact Herbert Washington, vocational counselor, at (252) 492-2061.
Eleven Welding Technology students of the class of 2005 at Vance-Granville Community College have taken and passed the national certification exam of the American Welding Society. The newly-certified welders are, seated, from left: Cameron Jones of Henderson, Chris Robbins of Franklinton, Ronnie Bailey of Butner, John Williamson of Oxford, Harry L. Carden Jr. of Creedmoor and Robert S. Boothe Jr., of Oxford. Standing, from left, are: Bill Jones, Welding Technology program head and instructor, Sedrick Boyd of Henderson, Juston Nicholson of Warrenton, Alonza Spruill of Kittrell, Eric Smithson of Oxford, Tenell Reynolds of Kittrell, and James W. Wheeler Jr., dean of Vocational Education.
