Welding class at PTEC
James Irwin Charter Schools is excited to announce that Power Technical (PTEC), a pre-engineering/professional skilled trade school, has received a $25,000 grant from the AWS Foundation. Founded in 1989, the AWS Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Welding Society, a nonprofit organization with a global mission to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes. The AWS Foundation received nearly 100 applications for this grant. "The AWS Foundation is proud to support the welding program at Power Technical," said Monica Pfarr, Executive Director. "As the industry continues to face a shortage of welding professionals, institutions such as Power Technical are rising to meet the challenge. We look forward to seeing the program grow to serve the needs of local fabricators and manufacturers."
PTEC will be using the grant to purchase welding equipment and supplies to enhance our Welding program. Principal LeErica Warren states, “This grant will allow us to get more students welding more often. Why watch when you could be welding? The more you weld, the better you get. The better you get; the more job offers are made. We are not here to merely make graduates. We are here to make welding professionals who are the future of the welding community.”
PTEC opened in 2016 and recently relocated to 2460 Waynoka Place. The new campus is 94,000 square feet, with nine large CTE shop classes, 26 academic classrooms, and 2 Engineering labs, including CAD and Robotics. PTEC offers courses in construction, welding, electronics, CAD, fire science, automotive, HVAC, plumbing, woodworking, machining, and more. PTEC serves students grades 6-14. Grades 13 and 14 represent the two years our students may earn a tuition-free Associate’s Degree in a skilled trade from Pikes Peak State College.
Celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, James Irwin Charter Schools is an award-winning network of five schools on three campuses. The total enrollment of the network is over 2,100 students. Two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and a pre-engineering/professional skilled trade school are included. Named after the late astronaut James B. Irwin, JICS opened its first school in 2000. Character development, academic excellence, and a Western Heritage emphasis are paramount in these award-winning schools.
jamesirwin.org Contact Linda Carroll at linda.carroll@jamesirwin.org.
