Penta Career Center students interested in welding had the chance Friday to participate in demonstrations, hands-on activities, and motivational talks with industry professionals from Western Welding Academy’s Blue Collar Tour.

Penta was one of 30 stops that make up the 60-day BCT that began in January. It is the tour’s only stop in Ohio.

“They are here to promote blue collar skilled trades, especially welding,” Monica Dansack, public information coordinator at Penta, said. “Our welding programs here are exploding with popularity.”

Abigail Mockensturm, 19, who is in the industrial maintenance program at Penta’s regional campus in Bowling Green, plans a career in welding.

“I would like to work on the pipelines,” she said.

Ms.Mockensturm, who lives in Bowling Green, became interested in the skilled trade after a chance meeting with a welding instructor who thought she should try it out.

“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. An instructor thought I was a real go-getter, and asked what I thought of welding class. I decided to join because I thought, ‘Why not?’ I really liked it. It worked out really well.”

She recommends the trade to anyone who is unsure of a career path.

“If they don’t think they can do it, yes they can. They just have to put in the effort, especially girls who may think it’s a man’s job,” she said.

Ms. Mockensturm learned how to do tungsten inert gas welding on a flat plate at Friday’s event.

“I never did that before. I learned how to do that just now. I’m hoping to learn more,” said Ms. Mockensturm, who participated in a competition at the event and won a new welding hood.

Ellie Dobbelare, of Oak Harbor, also wants to pursue a career in welding.

“It’s a great opportunity to see demonstrations and win some free stuff,” the 17-year-old said.

She has always been interested in the trade and is currently in Penta’s welding program.

“I like seeing the things I work on day in and day out, and things I can create. It’s something I really enjoy,” she said.

She plans on a five year apprenticeship in welding when she completes the program at Penta.

“This is probably going to be my lifelong career,” she said.

Gavin Grant, 16, of Swanton, is also interested in welding.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life, so I came here and found welding,” he said.

The field appeals to him because “it’s a good job. It gives you good money, and you can travel around the world with it.”

He watched a TIG demonstration while at the event.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s good to get a visual of different TIG because you might see something you can improve on,” he said.

The school sent emails and applications to Western Welding Academy for more than two years, hoping to bring the Blue Collar Tour to Penta, Dave Stacklin, career tech supervisor at Penta, said.

Once Penta could show how strong the interest was in welding was at the school, Western Welding Academy finally added them to its tour this year.

Why was it so important to draw the academy to Penta?

“It spotlights career technical education and the skilled trades. These are skills that a student will have for the rest of their lives,” he said.

“They can go onto college, the military, onto many different careers and be successful. And no matter what, they will always have this training that serves as their foundation,” he said.

There is a waiting list to get into the welding program at Penta, he said.

“Currently this year, we have 71 students signed up for 48 spots.”

Jake Kraegel, senior year welding instructor at Penta, said welding is required in the manufacturing, aerospace, and construction fields.

“They could be production welders, work at custom fab shops, maintenance workers in some of our refineries, food plants, and glass plants. Welding is involved in all of those industries. There’s a lot of people doing it. Our students are seeing it, and what kind of living it offers.

“We have a ton of industries that pay pretty well. Between the refineries, steel plants, local unions, and custom fab shops in our area, you can make anywhere from $60,000 to $80,000 after two years of experience,” he said.

Quacy Wilson, director of student selection at Western Welding Academy, said giveaways from sponsors DeWalt, CRC, ESOB, and Build Submarines, are a big hit with students. The freebies include welding hoods, shirts, hats, and tools.

“We’re out here just inspiring these kids, hoping at the end of the day they realize that the blue collar trades are the backbone of our nation. They are so important for us to maintain our way of living today,” he said.

First Published February 7, 2025, 9:52 p.m.