Welding construction offers new avenues for students

By Carol Rolf

LITTLE ROCK — Students at Bryant High School talked and administration listened.

Opinions were heard from members of the Saline County community and administrators at Bryant High School listened again. Results from surveys taken last year led to several new classes this year at Bryant High School, including welding and construction.

Randy Rutherford, principal, said the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education “helped our school district out financially to get these new programs started.” Other new classes include advertising design, ACT prep and criminal justice.

“We hope to turn several of these programs into internships,” Rutherford said. “This would allow them (students) to build relationships and hopefully help them to enter into the workforce immediately after high school.” Two of those internships would be for construction and welding students.

Philip Hinkson teaches the construction class.

“This is my first year at Bryant High School,” Hinkson said with a smile. “I’ve been in building for 40 years. I retired and am now starting a new career.”

Hinkson said the construction class is a three-year program. “It’s particularly beneficial for incoming 10th-graders to stick with theprogram for the three years,” he said. “We teach them everything basic to construction, including carpentry, plumbing and electrical, and safety, especially safety. We spend the first few weeks on safety, and they all wear safety goggles and hard hats when working.

“If they pass the test, we will help them with finding employment,” Hinkson said. “They will come out of the class with a certification. They will have all the basic knowledge and should be very good applicants for a job with real life skills that can also be used at home.”

Hinkson said there are 40 students enrolled in construction classes and the students are in the class for one and one-half hours, as the school is based on the block program.

Christi Farquhar is a senior in the construction class. “I love working with my hands,” she said. “I built my mom a wall unit, 5-foot-by-6 foot. She did the design and I made it happen.

“I don’t know about college yet,” she said. “I’m thinking about engineering. I’m glad they offered this construction class.”

B.J. Ellis is a junior enrolled in the construction class.

“I love to build stuff,” he said. “This class will help me do stuff around the house.”

Skylar McNeely is a 10th-grader in the construction class.

“I’ve worked with my uncle in carpentry,” he said. “I enjoy it. If I decide to go into carpentry,I hope this class will help me get into another school for construction.”

Terry Harper teaches the welding class. He has been a teacher for 12 years, “but this is the first year for our welding class,” he said.

“I’ve had a little bit of prior experience,” Harper said.

Harper said the welding class also is a threeyear program. “For the first year, we will concentrate on the basics of welding. We will bring in people from the community, from welding shops, to show us how they do things.

“We did safety first and the students will develop skills as they train,” he said.

Harper said there are 52 students enrolled in the welding program. He said when the students complete the program, they will be certified to enter the work force or go on for further training in welding.

“We hope to develop some kind of internship for these students,” he said.

John Gray is a senior enrolled in the welding class. “After I graduate high school, I plan to go to Tulsa for welding school,” he said. “I would like for welding to be my career. The more I learn about it, I believe it will be a high-paying job for me.”

Danny Powell is also a senior enrolled in the welding program. “It looks like a fun thing to do,” he said. “I’ve done a little tile work, and now I’m doing welding. I think welding will lead to a good-paying job.”at a glance Grades: Nine through 12 Enrollment: 2,000 Mascot: Hornets Athletics: 7A football, basketball, baseball, softball, track, golf, tennis, cross-country, swimming Principal: Randy Rutherford Assistant Principals: Bill Withers, Rachel Rasburry, Kayla Avant, Scott Curtis, Paul Gattin Telephone: (501) 847-5605 Web site: www.bryantschools.org

Tri-Lakes, Pages 66 on 09/25/2008