Flames are blowing and sparks are flying in the welding room at Sandpoint High School

Seniors Miles Luce and Kaytlyn Wooden both have a passion for welding and plan apply their welding skills gained in Mr. Stark’s welding class in their careers after high school

Luce has been welding throughout all of his high school career. He has taken every welding class offered at the high school. He is currently in an independent study and has two teacher’s aid periods to strengthen his skills and to help the welding teacher Jake Stark.

“The hardest thing I ever had to make was an entire trailer from scratch, besides the axles,” Luce said.

Luce has learned how to perform many different types of welding such as TIG welding (Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding), GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding), and SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding).

“I’ve learned how to shape metal into usable forms [and] I’ve learned how to fuse metal together, with or without filler rod,” Luce said.

Wooden is another student who has been welding since freshman year of high school. She has also taken the three levels of welding offered at SHS. She is currently not in a welding class, but is doing a teacher’s aid for Stark second semester.

“For me it was how easy going the class was, there was no stress and everybody knew what they were doing,” Wooden said about why she enjoyed the welding classes.

Throughout all three welding classes she has worked on her skills and has been inspired by the program to turn welding into a career.

“Mr. Stark was able to explain how welding works and having to work with my hands and create something was a really good experience and made me want to do it in the future,” Wooden said.

Both students find that the class has taught them many useful skills not only for their careers, but for life in general.

“You can fix anything that you break,” Luce said. “It’s nice being able to repair all sorts of stuff.”

After high school Luce plans on going to the Divers Institute of Technology in Seattle to learn how to underwater weld.

Underwater welding is one of the higher risk welding jobs available.

Wooden either wants to enter the welding program at North Idaho College after high school, or go into construction management.

Job outlook for welders is exceptional, and they are needed in many fields. The welding classes at Sandpoint High ha have set up opportunities for these students to get a head start on their careers.

The many skills taught and acquired  in these classes can be used towards earning welding certifications, better qualifying the students for jobs in the field.

After going through all three welding classes and an independent study they can go to Oxarc, located in Spokane, to earn these certifications.

“It sets people up for the future in that it is a trade that you can learn and is always in demand,” Wooden said.

Both students have used these experience in the welding program to get a head start on their careers while doing something they love.