On Saturday, January 28, the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Community Awards Banquet. The TBCC Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Welding Technology program was nominated for Program of the Year by Tillamook County residents and was voted the winner! Paul Jarrell, VP of Academics and Student Services said, “We are honored to be the recipient of such a meaningful award, and we can’t thank the community enough for thinking of our Welding Technology program,” when he accepted the award on behalf of TBCC.
The AAS in Welding Technology provides community members with educational opportunities while bolstering the local workforce. Through high-quality instruction, students can earn their degree in Welding Technology and multiple welding certifications that teach essential industry skills such as fabrication and industrial safety.
“Part of the goal of our welding program is to link our students with local jobs, and we do this by having our students participate in a Cooperative Work Education course. This part of our welding students’ education pairs them with local industry workers to get hands-on experience in their future careers. A handful of our students have even turned this opportunity into a long-term career, securing employment early through our program with local welding employers like Hallco Industries, Inc., and Willie Wallace Welding,” Jarrell said.
Last year, TBCC welding students, alongside Welding Instructor Ron Carlbom, fabricated a 3D rendering of a K-Class Blimp that replaced the “plane on a stick” on Highway 101 for the Tillamook Air Museum. This project gave students an opportunity to use the knowledge they acquired through TBCC welding courses in a real-world setting. “We couldn’t have done it without our dedicated students, and I am so happy to be part of a program that keeps expanding to serve the community,” said Carlbom.
TBCC always works to prepare students for their future careers, and the welding program is no different. When students graduate with their AAS in Welding Technology they are giving back to themselves and our community with their success. The staff, faculty, and welding students at TBCC would like to thank all residents of Tillamook County for nominating the program, as well as the nomination committee that chose the winners. The community’s support for the program and the county’s future workforce is appreciated.