25 April ICC Welding/Cutting students celebrate their career path every day April 25, 2025 By Thomas, Donna S. Career Center, General 0 Although the nation commemorates April as National Welding Month, students in Kent Lewis’s Welding and Cutting Technology class at Itawamba Community College’s Belden Center celebrate their career path and ultimate profession every day. This year’s theme is “Connected by Welding: Bridging Communities and Industries,” and ICC’s students definitely do. According to Dylan Baldwin, dean of Career Education, ICC’s welding students are an excellent example of the definition of community partners. “They contribute to worthwhile events and charities while sharing their talents as often as possible. Every project provides an opportunity to demonstrate their creativity while honing their skills in their chosen profession.” ICC’s welding students come from different backgrounds and have different career expectations, but they are bound by their love and passion for welding. Among their stories have included “I’m hooked on a hobby that I can have for a lifetime. My grandfather was a welder, and I would have made him proud. I can feel his arms on mine when I stick weld.” Some hope to start their own business, but no matter their story, their chance meeting in ICC’s Welding and Cutting class has given them an opportunity to learn something that will give them a better future. According to Lewis, approximately 80,000 welding jobs are expected to be filled annually between now and 2029. Just what do welders do? There is more to welding than joining metal elements with the help of numerous tools, Lewis noted. They study and understand specific sketches, blueprints and instructions, raw structure/material analysis to determine appropriate methods required; use appropriate tools depending on the chosen method and maintain equipment and tools to meet the requirements. Lewis said that there are about 100 welding methods such as gas tungsten, shielded metal and gas metal, which he teaches in ICC’s program. He also explained that welders use a variety of different types of tools including electric and manual equipment, but sometimes they combine tools for proper job performance. Lewis said that aspiring welders should be detail oriented; have physical strength, stamina and manual dexterity; and both technical and spatial-orientation skills. Among potential employers are building and bridge construction, manufacturing, aerospace industries, gas and oil field power plants and refineries, shipbuilding and auto/motorcycle fabrication and repair. ICC’s program is selective admission, which means that there are a limited number of openings, and specific entry-level requirements must be met. The deadline for application to the fall class is May 30. For more information, email careereducation@iccms.edu. Related Articles ICC celebrates April as National Welding Month; students in Metallica class share their stories Chris Adair of Saltillo is a student in Itawamba Community College’s welding class that has been funded by a grant from Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands. He and his classmates as well as all students in ICC’s welding classes are joining in the celebration of April as National Welding Month. Adair said that enrolling in the class was a great opportunity to learn welding. “I’m hooked on a hobby that I can have for a lifetime.” His grandfather was a welder for both the Navy and NASA. “I would have made my grandfather proud. I can feel his arms on mine when I stick weld.” A general studies graduate in 2018, Adair said he didn’t know what his future would bring. He said he spent a lot of time playing video games. “I didn’t know what to do. I saw the opportunity and decided to go for it. I was nervous at first, but I’ve started a hobby that I enjoy.” Adair and his classmates have different stories, but their chance meeting in ICC’s welding class has given them ... ICC announces Cadence Bank’s continued support of its Career Pathways program Itawamba Community College today announced Cadence Bank has continued its long tradition of supporting ICC students with a $15,000 donation to its Career Pathways program. The program connects low-income individuals and adult education students with workforce training to enable them to gain the skills and knowledge necessary for finding employment in a high-demand career field, according to Josh Gammill, director of continuing education at ICC. “As the need for skilled workers becomes more abundant in our community, graduates of Itawamba Community College’s workforce training programs will increase the number of available workers within the community, positively impacting economic development efforts in the region,” he said. Cadence Bank’s donation will be used to pay for the tuition of one of Itawamba Community College’s workforce training pathways, which includes programs such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and EMT-Basic. “ICC staff members communicate with students in this demographic, and while there is interest in the programs, they often do not have the funds necessary to be able to pay for training courses,” Gammill said. Because the programs are short-term and non-credit, no state or federal ... Registration underway at ICC for three career pathway programs to begin Jan. 30 at Belden Center Registration is underway at Itawamba Community College for three career pathway programs that will begin January 30 at the Belden Center. They include Electrician Assistant, Small Engine Repair and Introduction to Welding and Cutting. Electrician Assistant will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. through Feb. 29. The program prepares individuals to work closely with their supervising electrician to perform routine electrical work. It provides the foundational knowledge of basic math and basic safety rules; the use of hand, measuring and power tools; basic electricity and residential wiring. Students can also prepare for entry-level jobs in industry or private businesses. Cost is $370. In the 16-session Small Engine Repair pathway, students prepare for a career as they develop skills in basic maintenance, recoil systems, fuel systems, ignition systems/electrical circuits and disassembling and rebuilding small engines. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays through March 28 from 6-9 p.m. Those who successfully complete the program are prepared for entry-level technician positions at an existing small engine repair business or potentially opening their own shop. Cost is ... World Day of the Child should be celebrated EVERY day...because they are 'our future' The calendar pages are turning rapidly. Excitement and anticipation fill our days, hours and minutes…and most importantly, the sights and sounds of children, eagerly awaiting Christmas Eve, the most magical time of the year. Children…we must celebrate them every day, because, you see, they are our future. They need love, nurturing and attention, all of which are free. Sometimes it’s good to remember what it’s like to be a child…and seeing the world through their eyes. As the world rushes to prepare for the holidays, specifically Christmas, with making lists and checking them twice, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for us to stop for just a few minutes and reflect on those days when we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa…an early bedtime, but little sleep as any sound could have been his reindeer. Christmas and every other day should be the “day of the child” just as the commemoration this week as “World Day of the Child.” There are many ways that we can celebrate with children every day and in ... ICC students can take advantage of Mississippi Works Career-Tech Scholars Program Itawamba Community College students who enroll in one of 18 career education programs this fall can take advantage of a new scholarship program. The Mississippi Works Career-Tech Scholars Program, administered by the Mississippi Community College Board, has been established to serve as a state-assisted tuition scholarship program for eligible community and junior college students by providing tuition financial assistance to those who enroll in approved, in-demand Career Education certificate and Associate of Applied Science degree programs identified through sector analysis to meet the workforce demands of the state, according to Emily Tucker, ICC adviser and recruitment coordinator. Programs at ICC include Emergency Medical Tech-Paramedic, Health Information Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Public Health Technology, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care Technology, Surgical Technology, Computer Networking Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Welding and Cutting Technology, Computer Programming Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, Electrical Technology, Automotive Technology and Collision Repair Technology. To be eligible for the program, students must be legal residents of Mississippi, admitted to an approved Mississippi Works ... Registration underway at ICC-Belden for career pathway programs Registration is underway at Itawamba Community College for three career pathway programs that will begin in February at the Belden Center. They include Food Management Certification, Welding and Cutting and Electrician Assistant. Food Management Certification will meet Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., February 18-March 21. During the hands-on, four-week class, students will learn the essential skills needed to thrive in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Included in the curriculum are both ServSafe® Food Manager and Alcohol certifications, menu planning preparation, assistance with and execution of catered events, résumé/interview skills and front- and back-of-the-house operations. Cost is $460, but tuition assistance and scholarships are available for qualified applicants. Introduction to Welding and Cutting is designed to give students entry-level skills in welding and cutting. The intent is to prepare students to do the very basic GMAW and SMAW welding jobs that some industries and businesses require. The class can also be useful to the small farmer or business owner who has many do-it-yourself projects. Different types of welding can be emphasized depending on the individual class, which also ... Comments are closed.