Arctic Directory: Airgas expands high school welding education initiative

Petroleum News

As reported by Airgas News April 4, Airgas, an Air Liquide company, will welcome 65 schools into the company's high school welding education initiative for the 2024 academic year, expanding the ongoing program to help students across the country prepare to enter welding, engineering and technical careers. This year, 31 returning schools and 34 new schools from a record 29 states have been selected to be part of the program. The selected school programs were chosen based on four key factors: high unmet need at the school; a productive welding program with the potential to graduate job-ready welders; passionate teachers; and enthusiastic local Airgas champions. Participating programs receive a customized mix of hands-on professional development training or continuing education for welding teachers in close collaboration with Airgas associates. In addition, Airgas donates welding consumables or equipment, safety PPE, and other resources to help support welding program growth within these schools. Since 2018, the Airgas high school welding education initiative has assisted 117 schools, over 8,100 welding students and nearly 560 instructors across the country. An estimated 1,000 students have obtained jobs directly after graduating from a school program supported by Airgas donations. The American Welding Society forecasts that 360,000 new welding professionals are projected to be needed by 2027, with 90,000 average welding jobs to be filled annually between 2023-2027. Airgas is grateful that the schools in this year's program will receive additional resources to support more students from Airgas suppliers including Hypertherm, Lincoln Electric, Miller and 3M. Jay Worley, Airgas chief operating officer, commented: "Our goal is to enable and empower students in these 65 deserving programs to fill their potential in a welding career. We are excited to work alongside the dedicated schools and teachers in this year's program, with equipment and PPE manufacturers adding further support. Together, we can collectively prepare job-ready welding program graduates and support the communities in which we operate."