by Kevin Zimmermann
(WHBL) – A shortage of welders has turned into an opportunity for Kiel High students thanks to a partnership between their school, LTC and Amerequip, a Kiel-based company. Thirteen new welding bays outfitted with the same equipment used by Amerequip employees were donated to the school by Miller Electric, enabling students to begin an accelerated path to welding certification this fall.
LTC President Dr. Paul Carlsen said that students will now get to find out in high school whether a tech degree is a good fit for them at an early stage, and those completing the program will graduate high school with 10 LTC credits and only 17 more needed for a diploma. Students coming out of high school could earn $15-$20 per hour locally right away according to instructor Ron Schneider.
Amerequip President and CEO Mike VanderZanden said his company already employs over 75 welders, but that’s not enough and the Kiel students who graduate could fill the gap, eliminating the need for the company to look outside the state for new workers.
