New welding program at MSCS helps fill need for trade jobs

By Brian Todd, Rochester Post Bulletin
Photos by Andrew Link
February 24, 2017

RED WING -- Loren Evers is ready to live the dream, and he's only 17.

"I don't have to wait to next year," Loren Evers said. "I can get a job right out of high school making good money."

Evers, a senior at Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School is taking welding classes through Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing as part of a Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program. The technical college in Red Wing opened a new welding lab in January, offering a certificate in a field that's in high demand.

"Job placement is about 100 percent," said Travis Thul, dean of trade and technology at Minnesota State College Southeast. Thul, who oversees both the Red Wing and Winona campuses, said the new program in Red Wing -- a one semester certificate -- can lead either to a good job right away or a great job for those who finish the welding diploma at the Winona campus.

Thul said the school saw a need in the marketplace for more welding instruction and decided to take advantage of that need by helping students learn a valuable trade.

"Construction, oil and gas, marine, heavy industry, you name it," he said. "These graduates are sought all over the country."

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