Texas State lands USDA grant to promote welding for underrepresented populations

INSIDE TXST

Jayme Blaschke | November 27, 2023

Ryan Anderson, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Texas State University, and Bradley Borges, a senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, have received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to promote STEM-based careers in the welding industry among high school students.

The three-year, $200,000 grant will support the Women and Minorities in Welding (WAM WELD) program. The major component of WAM WELD will focus on welding certification events with associated college and career fairs. The project is expected to increase the number of underrepresented students pursuing careers in welding, increase recruitment to Texas State’s agricultural mechanics program and serve as an educational model for adoption by other institutions.

The welding certification events will be open to all high school students interested in earning a welding certification and/or exploring college and career opportunities in the welding field. Students will be able to select one of four welding levels that vary based on positions and specific welding processes.

These students will be able to complete their qualification welds at welding certification events, which will be evaluated by a certified welding inspector. The inspector will explain if the weld passed or failed following the American Welding Society standards. Students that pass will receive a certification for the relevant welding process and position.

The second component of the project is the WAM WELD Ambassadors program for post-secondary students interested in welding careers. Each semester, post-secondary students will be selected to successfully plan, develop, implement, execute and reflect on a welding certification event with a college and career fair for secondary students. The WAM WELD Ambassadors will recruit for the Texas State agricultural mechanics program at junior agricultural mechanics shows, agricultural mechanics career development events and similar functions. The WAM WELD Ambassadors will receive educational assistance awards to serve in this role.