The Welding Technology program is designed to provide comprehensive theoretical and hands-on training to prepare students for immediate employment in the welding industry. There is an increased demand for skilled workers in many industries such as construction, oil and gas, and shipbuilding to mention a few. HCC offers an outstanding Welding program.
Success story: Sharron Waszkiewicz
After 20 years of working as an Assistant Principal, I retired and became a potter. I was interested in combining metal art with pottery so I took a welding course along with the pottery. I also took every art course available at HCC including computer art and drafting, but I loved welding.
I was fascinated by the fact that a piece of metal could not be altered, but in the welding process the metal became fluid. I enjoyed welding so much that I continued learning welding in all forms at HCC. I was asked to become involved in a program promoted at HCC that recruited women in male-dominated fields and I jumped at the chance to learn more welding. At the HCC welding program I became certified in Shielded Metal Art Welding (SMAW), Gas Tungsten Art Welding (TIG), Gas Metal Art Welding (Mig), and pipe welding. I became a First Texas Volunteer (FTV) on the Battleship Texas where I welded decks, fabricated doors and hatches and performed many other needed welding tasks for the restoration of the battleship. In my neighborhood, I welded tractors, furniture and many other items brought by my neighbors.
Upon completion of the welding courses at HCC, I was hired into a co-op program promoted by HCC at a facility called Acute Technological Services, which tests all metals and welding processes for companies before they go into production. I welded with TIG, and SMAW, and robotic welding which includes setting up welding machines to program the weld on a computer. I also performed quality control on welded items. We "sliced and diced" metal to test welds with all methods, destructive and nondestructive. My mind was being opened to see so much more that is involved in the welding of metals. I had learned so much at HCC and then in industry that when HCC asked me to become an adjunct welding instructor, I was able to bring back my experience to the classroom to teach welding and blueprint welding to new students. I love welding and helping others to become welding professionals.
After 20 years of working as an Assistant Principal, I retired and became a potter. I was interested in combining metal art with pottery so I took a welding course along with the pottery. I also took every art course available at HCC including computer art and drafting, but I loved welding.