Wild Rose School Division is honoured to announce that West Central High School, in Rocky Mountain House, has been selected by the Canadian Welding Association to receive $5,000 per year for the next ten years. In partnership with the Marinucci Family, the CWA Foundation was able to provide this grant for 10 Canadian welding programs at the secondary level. This year, the grant will allow West Central High School to purchase rods, metal, gases and other non renewable materials.

“West Central High School is strengthening our Career and Technology department, challenging students in the Provincial Skills Competitions and enhancing opportunities for our students in Trades,” stated Principal, Nathan Moore. “The generous donation by the Marinucci Family Foundation and the CWA will help our students move forward in their education and skill development.”  

West Central High School was selected for this award  based on their welding program’s history, student success and internal and external recommendations from welding education experts. In the future this grant money will be designated to assist with necessary welding equipment and material for the welding program.

“It is our objective to grow this model program by encouraging other individuals, corporations and industry partners to look within their own communities to support their local secondary school welding programs,” stated executive director of the CWA foundation, Deborah Mates.

The West Central Welding Program has been operating for the last 15 years. Started in 2006 this program sought to teach students basics in welding and design in order to prepare them for the workforce. Over the years this program has seen an average of 30 students per term working in oxy fuel, mig, smaw and tig welding as well as gaining experience in mechanical cadd. “It has been my great pleasure to prepare students to succeed in Skills Canada events” stated Welding Teacher, Wade Hansma.  

“My whole family welds and this is something I see as a career,“ stated grade 11 student, Maria Nast. “it's something I enjoy doing,  I just received a scholarship from Wayne Pidhirney Welding for my work and hope to make this a career," stated grade eleven student, Chris Furniss.  

For more information about this grant click here to read the full media release from the CWA foundation or if you have any further questions please email communications@wrsd.ca or contact Nathan Klosse at 403-845-3376.