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Representatives from the American Welding Society (AWS) visited the LaGrange Campus of West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) on Feb. 8 to present a banner recognizing WGTC’s receipt of an AWS Workforce Grant. Robert Trudelle, AWS Atlanta Section Vice-Chair, and Rene Engron, AWS Atlanta Section Secretary, made the presentation.

The American Welding Society Foundation recently awarded West Georgia Technical College an AWS Foundation Welding Workforce Grant for $13,374.55 to purchase new equipment for the LaGrange Campus Welding Program.

The LaGrange welding lab currently runs 3 classes per day in its 17 welding booths. The AWS grant builds on a $300,000 renovation of the restrooms, locker room and breakroom in the welding facility this year and will outfit additional welding booths to allow more students in the program.

“West Georgia Tech is very proud to receive this American Welding Society Workforce Grant,” WGTC School of Trade and Technology Dean Gary Welborn said. “Our goal is to meet industry needs by providing them with well-trained qualified welders. The money from the AWS Workforce Grant will allow us to purchase additional welding machines for our LaGrange Campus so that we can prepare more students for a successful career in welding.”

The AWS representatives toured WGTC’s LaGrange Campus welding lab and spoke to students about the benefits of being associated with AWS, including scholarship and networking opportunities and all the forums available that will benefit them in their welding careers. Students were also excited to learn about the possibility of other activities they could get involved in such as forming a student AWS chapter and participating in competitions with other schools.

“We are extremely grateful for the support and recognition of the American Welding Society,” WGTC President Dr. Julie Post said. “Employers in our area need welders, and we are working hard to increase our capacity so we can meet their needs with well-trained and career-ready graduates.”

To learn more about West Georgia Technical College’s welding program visit www.westgatech.edu/welding-and-joining-technology/