Kishaun Chadwick is a student in the welding program at the Volt Center. His father inspired him to pursue a career in welding. He took Welding Level 1 at the Volt Center and was offered a job at Chatsworth Products. He plans to take Welding Level 2 and earn his .
酴圖弝け CC welding student melds interests with career
By Holly Desrosier
酴圖弝け (酴圖弝け CC) student Kishaun Chadwick has found his career niche. Although his spark for welding was ignited early in life, he recently decided to pursue it through the welding program at the Volt Center.
My father is a welder, said Chadwick. Hes been a welder all my lifekind of inspired me to do something in that nature. I love to draw and put things together, so thats what inspired me to start welding. I believe its practical; its something thats always going to be needed.
Chadwick started the Welding 1 course at the Volt Center in January 2020. He was a little apprehensive at first and felt the natural fear of failure that comes with trying something new. Even so, he decided to give it his all and prove to his mother, wife and two children that he could do it.
I wanted to make sure I went there openminded, because Im definitely not a school guy, he admitted. Im definitely hands-on, so it was getting over the youre gonna have to sit in class all day, when really that wasnt what it was. The first day it was a bunch of nerves, hoping that I make it.
Chadwick also worked for Habitat for Humanity during that time, where he connected with a volunteer whose father works at Chatsworth Products, a global manufacturer of high-quality information and communications technology infrastructure products.
I told him that I was starting to come to 酴圖弝け for welding, and after that he said come back to me after you get your certificate and well see what we can do, Chadwick recalled. Coincidentally, God made a way and Im at Chatsworth.
His welding course experienced several setbacks due to the pandemic: It was originally scheduled to end that June but was extended through October, causing it to be dubbed the never-ending COVID-19 class. He noted that upon completing it, he felt accomplished and filled with motivation to commit to finishing his education. He plans to continue at 酴圖弝け CC and earn his associate degree after completing the Welding 2 program, then expects to pursue a bachelors and masters degree. Ultimately, he hopes to become a certified welding inspector.
Chadwick said he would encourage anyone to attend 酴圖弝け CC and go after their career goals, regardless of how long they may have procrastinated.
You have nothing to lose, he said. Dont be discouraged. Its OK that time went by, and its never too late. Youre always able to do something. As long as you have that focus, that vision, and walk towards it, youll be able to run soon.
The welding program at the Volt Center allows students to become nationally certified welders through the National Center for Construction Education and Research. The classes are usually offered in the evenings and on Saturdays to accommodate working students.
The Welding Level 1 class teaches students the principles and practices of welding. Training includes general safety, common hazards, oxyfuel cutting, plasma arc cutting, air-carbon arc cutting, base metal preparation, joint design, quality workmanship, codes, shielded metal arc welding and electrodes.
In Welding Level 2, emphasis is placed on welding symbols, reading welding detail drawings, physical characteristics and mechanical properties of metals, preheating and post heating of metals, gas metal arc welding using metal inert gas, flux core arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding using tungsten inert gas, and setup and uses of different filler metals and gases.
The colleges Career Programs department also offers a Welding Technology program, in which students can pursue an associate degree, diploma or certificate. This program is recognized by the American Welding Society.
To find out about welding certification through the Volt Center, contact Eddie Foster at 252-638-3919. For more information on the Welding Technology program, contact Ricky Meadows at 252-638-4550.
This article was originally published in the on February 17, 2021.
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