Instructor:  Mr. Gary Freeman

The goal of the Lamar County School of Technology is to provide students with the skills necessary to be job-ready upon completion of their high school/technical school curriculum or to continue their educational endeavors at the post-secondary level.  The success rate of the students who graduate from the Lamar County School of Technology has been very high whether they choose to use their skills to join the workforce or to continue their education.  Students are also taught job search skills, resume writing skills, and job interview skills to further secure their career opportunities. 

The welding course offers a guide to skills and knowledge in the safe operation of electric arc welding equipment, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux core arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding.  It also offers training in oxyacetylene welding, brazing, and flame-cutting equipment.  

The major emphasis in the welding department is to combine skills in the care of shop tools and equipment, to develop work habits, leadership potential, and good attendance, and to develop within students critical thinking skills and problem-solving methods.  Safety and performance are also stressed throughout the course.  

The students are also given the opportunity to participate in NCCER (The National Center for Construction Education and Research) testing.  NCCER develops standardized construction and maintenance curricula and assessments with portable credentials. These credentials are tracked through NCCER’s National Registry which allows organizations and companies to track the qualifications of their craft professionals and/or check the qualifications of possible new hires.  

Students who have graduated from our welding program have gone on to work in the industry for companies such as Marathon, NAACO, Ox Bodies, Severstal, and Steel Dust Plant.