The shop building at Thedford High School recently received a big equipment boost thanks to a nearly $10,000 Perkins Funding grant that was used toward purchasing three Miller Multiprocess 235 welders. The welders are capable of welding three different processes on one machine including shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding all in steel. In addition, all are capable of spool gun welding aluminum.
Seth Scranton, Thedford Public Schools senior and FFA Chapter President, said when the boxes arrived in January it was like Christmas morning.
“That is what we love here at Thedford FFA. We’re just a bunch of hard-working kids that love to do what needs to be done. The new welders were pretty much a second Christmas to us,” said Scranton.
Thedford Public Schools Agriculture Education Teacher, Bridger Chytka, said the multiprocess welders allow the students to be as up-to-date as possible on new and emerging technologies in the Power and Industrial Technology pathways. Scranton said FFA has helped prepare him for life after high school, and the new welders will help those looking at pursuing that field of work.
“We have a few kids here that are interested in the future and a path in welding. These new welders are efficient and easier to learn on than the equipment we used to have. They are a lot better all around and you can get a lot more done,” said Scranton
The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) is a principal source of federal funding to states and discretionary grantees for the improvement of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs across the nation. The purpose of the Act is to develop more fully the academic, career, and technical skills of secondary and post-secondary students who elect to enroll in career and technical education programs.
Each year under Perkins V, Congress appropriates roughly $1.2 billion in state formula grants and over $30 million in competitive discretionary grants specified in the law for the improvement of career and technical education (CTE) programs across the nation.
