Welding class opens job opportunities

  POPLARVILLE – Cody Fairchild of Lumberton spent a few hundred dollars to take a Pearl River Community College fall semester welding course.
  In return, he’s moving from a job that pays $11.50 an hour to a new one starting at $25 an hour.
  “This is the first time I ever welded,” he said. “I’ve got a job lined up in Galveston, Texas, when I finish the class.”
  Fairchild will be working as a structural welder while classmate Hank Gonzales of Picayune already has a job welding pipe.
  “The experience of being in this class 100 percent helped me get the job,” Gonzales said.
  Applications for the spring semester welding and cutting course are being accepted now. 
The class will meet from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m Monday through Thursday, beginning Jan. 6 and ending April 23, in the Career Education Building on the Poplarville campus.
  The course offers an industry recognized certificate in welding, including applications for 10-hour OSHA certification, basic lift truck operator OSHA certification and NCCER certification in the core curriculum introductory craft skills and Welding Level 1 and Level 2 modules.
  Cost is $300 and students must provide welding shield, gloves and cap, steel-toed shoes, long-sleeve shirt, ear plugs and safety glasses. Students must be 18 years old before Jan. 6.
  Students also must provide a clean drug screen and receipt for payment to Shelia in the Career Education Building. Payment is to be made to the PRCC business office. (PRCC will be closed Dec. 18-Jan. 4 for the the Christmas break.)
  Workforce Investment Act tuition assistance will be available for those who qualify. Contact a WIN Job Center or Rebekah Jackson at 601 336-2291, rejackson@prcc.edu.
  For applications, telephone Cheryl at 601 403-1113 or Shelia at 601 403-1241.


A student in the Pearl River Community College welding and cutting night class works with a grinder, one of the skills taught in the class.
PRCC Public Relations photo

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

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