Burning bright

Blistering heat and grinding metal are just two of the many components for Western Nevada College’s accelerated welding program.

The class, which began this semester on the Fallon campus, has a full compliment of students (14), who enthusiastically buckle down for three, six-hour classes per week.

Students range from rookies to advanced welders in the same class, and all will gain the knowledge by the end of the semester to take level-appropriate certification tests at the Carson City campus. In total, the students will knock out 18 credits in 16 weeks toward either their AA or Certificate of Achievement.

The class is the brainchild of WNC Fallon Director Director Sherry Black, who hired instructor Josh Rau, a quality control supervisor at New Millenium. Rau, who was recruited by his former instructor Randy Naylor for the advanced class, is a former WNC student. He now commands a class with eager students and a more practical approach to a hard-labor profession.

“It’s just getting people some basic welding skills,” Rau said. “We want to help people get jobs.”

Although the mixed-bag of students are lumped together, Rau keeps a watchful eye and is heavily focused on safety in addition to his curriculum.

About the only traditional lecture Rau gave his students was at the beginning of the semester on safety. He detailed every aspect of the tools and protective gear used by the students and reinforces the issue each session with a specific topic.

“We come up with a safety topic every day,” Rau said. “We’ve gone over safety everyday, but something to just keep pounding into their heads to reinforce safety. That’s No. 1, no matter what.”

After the classes safety talk, they break into groups or individual stations to begin class. Rau roams the shop overseeing their work and progress.

The course covers all types of welding from stick, wire feed, cast iron, arch, plasma, field conditions and more.

“We’ll have a little bookwork, but I am going to go over everything with them in the shop,” Rau said. “They don’t want to sit in the classroom, I wouldn’t. They want someone who will show them how to do it.”

Although the class is six hours (4-10 p.m.), the students prefer the three-day model with heavy hands-on work.

Sean McNabb, a former sailor attending WNC on the GI Bill, said the course structure fits perfectly with his schedule and learning traits.

Having spent time in the classroom in previous welding classes, McNabb said the advanced program allows students to see the challenges and work up close. In addition, any mistakes made can be adjusted in their workspace opposed to a book, a necessity in the professional realm.

“I got the GI Bill and I’m just trying to learn something new with it,” McNabb said. “The difference between this one (class) and the others is the amount of time we get to spend welding. With Josh as the instructor, it’s a lot more hands-on. He’s really, really current in what he’s doing.”

He is also using this program to earn an Associate’s Degree, although McNabb said he will re-enroll at WNC to earn another degree to grow his options.

“If they have the time and can mange it, it’s a really good deal,” he added. “You get a lot of time behind a welder. You get options to certify after this. It knocks out almost you’re whole certificate for the school in one semester.”

He, like many enrolled in the program, will take a certification test at the end of the semester. Another bonus of the class, according to Rau and McNabb, is the drastically reduced rate of the test.

At WNC, the cost is $35, while an American Welding Society (AWS) test is $200.

“That is kind of the final thing … and help them get a job and show the employer they know how to weld,” Rau said. “It’s standard, industry wide. Depending on their skill level, we can do different ones.”

Rau, along with Black, meanwhile, are also generating ideas for a community-based class project, although the two are still kicking around ideas.

Since the program has been a success, Black said another one will be offered in the fall. The school is currently taking applications, she added.

“The idea is a nontraditional (class) so students can have intense training to get jobs when they are done” Black said.