Pictured are Kay Wagner (left) from Firelands and Travis Adams (right) from Midview guiding a visiting Wellington student on how to use a hand plasma cutter.

January 6, 2010 -- Sparks were flying for a group of Wellington High School Agricultural Mechanics students when they visited the Lorain County JVS Welding & Fabrication Program. The purpose of the visit was to give the students some intensive hand-on introduction in basic welding skills that are a part of the agricultural mechanics curriculum.

"We review the important safety standards before we come, then each student is paired with a JVS welding student for some one-on-one instruction," stated Firelands Ag Mechanics and FFA Advisor Shannon Thome. "When the students are done with their instruction they know how to run a bead, do basic arc welding and have a working knowledge of a butt weld, lap weld, and T-weld."

"Since the new JVS welding lab was designed with state-of-the-art equipment and the students receive individual instruction, they learn enough in one day to begin work on their assigned welding projects once we return to our home school lab," continued Thome.

As an added bonus, while at the JVS the students also had the opportunity to use a virtual welder that was on loan to the school from a company in Montreal, Canada.

"Virtual welding equipment has many advantages," stated Welding Engineer Claude Choquet, who designed the virtual welder and brought it to the JVS to observe how high school students interacted with the technology. "First of all it's eco-friendly, and we can train welders in a safe and clean environment. Moreover, it's a great way for students to try out welding and see if they are going to like it before they make a commitment to a program."

"It's also designed to run practice certification tests," continued Choquet. "If students hone their skills on the virtual welder first, they won't waste material and money retaking tests. They will be well prepared the first time around."

"I've been bringing my students to the JVS Welding & Fabrication Program for several years," stated Thome. "The process is extremely beneficial and the JVS students are doing us a tremendous service because we can cover so much more material in the welding unit because of the concentrated training."

JVS welding instructor Mark Schreiber hosts students each year from both Wellington and Firelands High Schools. "There isn't anything more important we can do to help students make decisions about a JVS program then give them some exposure to the equipment and a chance to talk with students in the program."