Welding: A new course offering for high school students in Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County high school students will soon have a new dual enrollment opportunity in partnership with Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)-Ripley. Lauderdale County School district has received a Tennessee Higher Education Commission Supporting Postsecondary Attainment in Rural Counties (SPARC) grant to implement a welding program that will be located on the Ripley High School campus. This program will be open to high school juniors and seniors from both Halls and Ripley.
Students will be positioned to graduate from high school with welding skills, credit hours of training and, potentially, an entry level welding certification. Skills, credit hours, and a welding certificate allows a high school graduate to enter the workforce after graduation and/or continue in postsecondary training. The addition of welding to an existing TCAT-Ripley Machining Tool Technology program located at RHS will offer students skills development for in-demand, high paying jobs in the West Tennessee, in the state, and in the nation.
The $75,000.00 grant will purchase MIG and TIG welders and associated equipment and will provide high quality training under TCAT technical expertise and guidance. The program will be operational in Fall 2019.