the women in technology day that the school hosted in April.” — Fig. 4. Briggs noted the special projects the student chapter has undertaken as important for enhancing skills that might not be practiced in the classroom, “such as bending pipe with sand and heat rather than a pipe bender.” Briggs said, “It is an opportunity to learn how to visualize, plan, and build various projects,” which so far in her tenure have included a barbeque pit and a Baja tire rack. The Baja tire rack is welded onto the back of the truck and allows off-roaders to keep their spare tire off the bottom of the vehicle, and out of harm’s way. Real-World Employment Instructor Mark Watson likes to say to his students, “But a man’s gotta eat!” And there is certainly an emphasis on postgraduation employment in the welding program. TSTC-Waco’s welding advisory board is made up of industry representatives from companies across the state, and the program teaches information deemed necessary by the board members. This way, students stay on top of industry trends and new technologies. Representatives from local and out-of-state companies tour the campus and test students for employment even before they graduate. Peggy Pliant and Annie Briggs each have a few semesters remaining, but they already have well-developed ideas of what they would like to do upon graduation. Pliant said she might look for work at SpaceX, in nearby McGregor, Tex., when she graduates. “Every time they send off one of the space shuttles, my house lights up,” said Pliant. Her favorite processes are flux core and overhead GTAW, as well as horizontal and uphill SMAW — Fig. 5. As for Briggs, she plans “on rigging out and working pipeline.” She looks forward to having the freedom to “go where the money is” and pay off her student debt. Once she has stored away savings, she hopes to attend diving school to become a commercial diver — Fig. 6. “My end goal at this point in time is to become an underwater welder,” she said, “I am planning on paying for THE AMERICAN WELDER Fig. 3 — The welding department’s instructors are seen from left (front row) Travis Hill, Bob White, Chris Hererra, Brandon Jones, and Chelsey Morris; (back row) Raleigh Derks, Mark Watson, Garrett Martin, Ash Yezak (assistant department chair), John Schrader, and Jose Melendez (department chair). Fig. 4 — AWS Student Chapter officers pose with Past President Nancy Cole after her visit. Seen (from left) are Chelsey Morris (Chapter advisor), Annie Briggs, Peggy Pliant (Chapter chair), Richard Crandal, Angel Eldridge, Danielle Rivera, Veronica Covey (department secretary), and AWS Past President Nancy Cole. Fig. 5 — Student Peggy Pliant at work in the laboratory. 86 WELDING JOURNAL / DECEMBER 2015
Welding Journal | December 2015
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