In the beginning of fall 2016, Lewis and Clark Community College began to add on to the campus.
L&C is providing a new building for the welding program thanks to a local man b the name of Ed Weber, who has given L&C $3.25 million for this new project.
Weber’s goal was to give students a safe and up-to-date environment at Lewis and Clark. He hoped to provide the area with an advanced workforce in the hopes of leading to students to success.
The Weber Workforce Center will offer students more opportunities to advance their welding career.
“Lewis and Clark offers a lot of hand-on programs and this will help students with experience for their programs,” said Radio Broadcasting student Lukas Jones.
L&C has more than 34 workforce programs, according to www.lc.edu.
Welding Technology is one of L&C’s largest programs. Since the program began in 2011, 171 students have graduated with a Certificate of Completion in Welding Principles, nine with an Associate in Applied Arts in Welding Technology and 17 with a certificate of Proficiency in Welding Technology.
Lewis and Clark hopes this building will increase these numbers.
“I was in a welding class back in high school with limited space and only a few students, but we somehow managed to learn the basics about welding,” Jones said. “I cannot imagine how they have fit all of the welding students at Lewis and Clark in an even smaller space while obtaining their degrees. So, this new facility will definitely help the welding program.”
Weber’s gift was matched with a federal Title III endowment challenge gift. This gift has a $500,000 endowment that will implement costs that are for maintenance of the new building.
“It’s beneficial to those that are interested in going into welding,” said L&C Nursing student Emily Smith. “It might spark more people’s interest knowing that there is a building specifically for that field,”
The newest addition is slated to be open no later than Fall 2017. Those interesting in learning more can visit www.lc.edu.
MAEGHAN KORTE
Contributor
