Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) received a visit recently from Michael Krupnicki, Vice President, and Grants Committee Chairperson for the American Welding Society (AWS). The purpose of the visit was to tour the Advanced Manufacturing Center on the Conway Campus and view the results of an AWS grant for equipment awarded in 2019.
The grant enabled HGTC to purchase new welding machines for the Advanced Welding Technologies program, an essential training aid to keep pace with technological advances in the welding industry. The new equipment contributed to the growth of the welding program and allowed HGTC to expand the program from 15 to 50 welding stations. In 2014, there were approximately 60 students in the program. Today, HGTC can admit 100+ students to meet the labor demands for a skilled workforce. The College has experienced high placement rates. This enables the College to fulfill its mission to provide workforce development and to promote economic growth.
“We were delighted to host Michael Krupnicki on our campus and present the results of the grant. The project goal was to deliver welding training that accurately reflects the industry workplace and increase the number of highly qualified graduates entering the welding workforce. The grant allowed the College to purchase Miller Dynasty Welders and contributed to the growth of the program,” said Dr. Marilyn Murphy Fore, HGTC President.
HGTC has exceeded the original expectations of the welding program and has several cohorts of students to include its curriculum program students, Continuing Education students and the Technical Scholars Students through a partnership with Horry County Schools.
“We appreciated the support from the American Welding Society and pleased to increase to 50 welding stations thus accommodating more students. Right now, the College has over 100 students which provides more skilled workers to meet the workforce demands. The welding program has 100% job placement,” said Jeff Ball, HGTC Chair for Academic and Workforce Development.
Welding plays a critical role in the strength and durability of everything from cars to heavy industrial machinery to bridges. HGTC's Advanced Welding certificate provides students entry level training and practical skills in Oxy-Acetylene cutting and brazing, SMAW (Arc), GMAW (MIG), FCAW (Flux Core) and GTAW (TIG) in ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including purge welding of sanitary process pipe.
In addition to preparing students for AWS welder performance certifications, students will also learn shop and site safety practices, blueprint reading, principles of metallurgy, construction math, hand and power tool usage and basic layout techniques used in the fabrication industry.
Employers of HGTC alumni include Ballard Iron, Venters Welding, Saferack Manufacturing, and Envirosep.
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