March 2021

In The News This Month

1. Women In Welding: Student Chapter Spotlight
2. Women in Welding Virtual Conference
3. Student Chapter Solutions Conversation
4. Student Chapter Challenge - Let's celebrate National Welding Month!
5. Updates from AWS Foundation and AWS Education

1. Women in Welding: Student Chapter Spotlight

March is Women’s History Month. To celebrate contributions of women in our industry, we would like to highlight female students from the Santa Fe Community College AWS Student Chapter.  

Student Chapter Advisor Jake Lovato shared the following and identified two students in particular he wanted to highlight: I'm very proud of all the lady welders I've taught throughout my years as a welding instructor. It especially makes me proud to see them succeed just as well as the boys in the field.

Instructor Chris Felix, Monique Lujan

and Jake Lovato

Monique Lujan (pictured above), an AWS Student Chapter Member during her time at Santa Fe Community College, graduated with a 4.0, earning a welding certificate and an AAS in Welding Technologies with 5 welding certifications.

Jake shared the following about Monique; "Monique Lujan is an amazing student whom I had the pleasure of teaching when she was a junior at Santa Fe High School. She is thoughtful, hardworking, and deeply driven. She was the recipient of an AWS scholarship and served as President of the Santa Fe Community College AWS Student Chapter."

Monique started her career as welder last year through an apprenticeship with UA Local 412 Plumbers and Pipefitters union.

Another noteworthy Santa Fe student is Callahan Jobe (pictured above). Callahan is working towards an Associates Degree in Welding Technology as well as several welding certificates through the AWS. She was introduced to welding when she served as an AmeriCorps member at Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity. This sparked a desire to learn as much about the trade as possible. Through her service with Habitat she was awarded two Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards, which she used to pay for school. She was also awarded the Air Products Women of Gases & Welding Scholarship through the AWS Foundation.

Callahan's projected graduation is May 2021. Upon completion of her degree she hopes to continue learning about this trade as well as inspire other women to join the trades. 

2. Women in Welding Virtual Conference 

Join us for the 1st Women in Welding Mini Virtual Conference hosted by the American Welding Society. We have invited (4) women who have succeeded in this industry to kick-off what we hope will be a series of these virtual events geared towards topics faced by women in this industry.

Registration is free for active AWS Student Members!

To register for the conference click here.

3. AWS Student Chapter Solutions Conversations

Student Chapter leaders are encouraged to participate in our monthly Student Chapter Solutions Conversations.

March Topic: “Social Media: Best Practices and Support for AWS Student Chapters"
Date & Time: March 17, 2021 - 2:00 PM EST

Guest Presenter: Claudia Keppinger, Marketing Project Manager, AWS

Register in advance for this meeting by clicking here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please note: If you have any trouble registering for the meeting on the day of the Conversation, please visit https://zoom.us/

and enter Meeting ID: 816 1516 4168 

Contact Evelyn Andino (eandino@aws.org) with any questions.  

4. AWS Student Chapter Challenge

Every welder has a story to tell, and we want to hear yours!

Share your Student Chapter's projects (classroom/shop or community service), welding competition or other activity with us so we can highlight your efforts during National Welding Month! 

Let's celebrate National Welding Month!

Join the American Welding Society throughout April as we celebrate National Welding Month to bring awareness to our industry and its available career paths. Help us show as many people as possible how important our industry is and how rewarding a career in welding can be.

Additional information about National Welding Month 2021 will be available soon. In the meantime, here are some resources to get you started. 

Service Learning Challenge!

Click here to watch the recording of the February 2021 Student Chapter Solutions Conversation where we highlighted "Service Learning"- using what you are learning in the classroom and shop to benefit your community - and officially challenged AWS Student Chapters to develop their own service learning projects. 

Attend an AWS Section Meeting

Getting involved with an AWS Section is easier than ever now that many Sections are hosting meetings online! Check out our new Upcoming Section Meetings page, and use your social media channels to get some friends and followers to join you, virtually, at an upcoming meeting. 

American Welding Society Playlists on YouTube

The American Welding Society has hours of content on YouTube, and much of it is organized into themed playlists - including our newest addition: AWS ARCademy. These playlists are perfect for sharing across your social media channels and with students in your area to highlight various aspects of the world of welding and allied joining and cutting processes. 

Postcards

Scholarship Rack Card (4˝ x 9˝ ) – Outlines scholarship opportunities available for welding education and training.
Welding Workforce Grant Rack Card (4˝ x 9˝ ) – Grants up to $25,000 available for schools to expand and improve welder training programs.

Poster

Careers in Welding Poster (11˝ x 17˝ ) – Perfect for the classroom, this poster promotes the all-new CareersinWelding.com website with visuals of career opportunities in the welding field. It also promotes AWS Scholarships.

5. AWS Foundation & Education Updates

AWS Foundation

JobsinWelding.com

Search the most comprehensive listing of welding jobs on the internet. You can also post your resume so hiring companies can find you! Visit www.jobsinwelding.com to see what opportunities are available!

AWS Education

Upcoming Professional Development Webinar

Aluminum Welding for Fabricators, Inspectors & Engineers: March 30 – April 8

Is welding aluminum difficult or just different? This live webinar addresses that question and provides you the information needed to confidently work with aluminum. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to identify aluminum properties that affect its use in welded structures; design, fabricate, and inspect aluminum weldments; and explain how to properly qualify aluminum welding procedures and welders.

Visit us at https://awo.aws.org/professional-development/ to learn more, register, and check out our other titles!

Don't Forget!

The AWS Student Chapter Toolkit contains tons of resources intended to make your efforts as an AWS Student Chapter leader more efficient and effective. 

While you're there; bookmark it!

Did you know that we are hosting a Student Chapter Helmet Giveaway?

The American Welding Society Foundation is providing auto-darkening welding helmets, courtesy of Jackson Safety, to be used to inspire and/or enhance AWS Student Chapter activity.

Simply complete the online request form, and a representative of the AWS will follow up.

Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first come first served basis based on information supplied in the form.

Please contact Evelyn Andino (eandino@aws.org) with any questions.

One last request: Please share this with your fellow Student Chapter leaders to ensure they stay up-to-speed on all Student Chapter-related news. 

About this email:

Each month, I will distribute an electronic newsletter to all Student Chapter Advisors and active Student Chapter Officers (who have a valid email address in our database).

The goal of distributing these newsletters is to effectively communicate important details we want you to be aware of.

I encourage you to discuss these details with your Student Chapter leadership team to ensure everyone is up-to-speed on all relevant news coming from AWS Headquarters as well as a feature on recent successes from some of your colleagues in the field. Reviewing these details as a team is a great way to promote and foster a strong line of communication among Student Chapter leadership as well as within your local Section.