August 26, 2021

Carter High School Celebrates Opening Of New Welding Lab

image

Amanda O'dell

Students at Carter High School will have more opportunities for hands-on experience in a highly sought after career path, thanks to a new facility that opened this week. Community leaders gathered on Thursday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a new welding lab at Carter High School.

The lab includes approximately 3,600 square feet of space, along with:

  • 10 self-ventilating welding booths;
  • 10 multi-process welders that allow students to practice a variety of welding techniques;
  • One welder that is specific to aluminum welding; and
  • A plasma table with a 4-by-8-foot bed that allows students to create two-dimensional designs out of sheet steel or other metals.

In addition to those tools, students will have access to a variety of gas-powered cutting torches and other hand tools.

“Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a career or to pursue post-secondary training,” said Superintendent Bob Thomas. “This lab will provide hands-on experience for Carter students, and we are hopeful that many of them will be inspired to pursue a career path where there is strong demand for skilled workers.”

“For a long time, we assumed the only pathway to success for every graduating student was through a 2- or 4-year university,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “While that is a valuable route, there are other options that are equally valuable and with more people retiring from trade industries than we have new people to fill those roles, a lab like this will go a long way to boost interest.”

“This welding lab is an important step to creating a pipeline of skilled talent in the Knoxville area,” said Amy Nolan, Vice President of Regional Enhancement for the Knoxville Chamber. “Providing this real-life training, we hope, will create more interest in welding as a career and allow employers to provide more opportunities for young people.”

Also Worth Checking Out

City Receives $42.6M from Feds to Reconnect Communities

Learn More
Chamber News

865 Opportunity Fund Helps Woman-Owned Business Increase Capacity

Learn More

Hand UP for Women to Host Ribbon Cutting and Open House of New Property

Learn More

Stay in the Loop

Get weekly updates on progress towards driving regional economic prosperity delivered to your inbox.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Translate »