High school students gain welding experience through DuBois educational partnership

SAINT MARYS, Pa. — A new program in partnership with Penn State DuBois Continuing and Community Education is providing students in the Saint Marys Area School District’s Dutch Manufacturing program with hands-on training in key manufacturing processes, including welding.

This spring, students were recruited to participate in a pilot welding program at the high school, utilizing new equipment. The initiative follows the success of last fall’s die setter training, in which five Dutch Manufacturing students took part in specialized instruction through Penn State DuBois.

Dutch Manufacturing, a student-run manufacturing venture, integrates high-technology education with hands-on manufacturing skills, offering participants real-world business and industrial experience. Local companies have played a crucial role in supporting the program, which annually engages dozens of students.

“It’s been important to us to develop new opportunities for our students that directly link to the manufacturing sector in our region,” said Harley Ramsey, superintendent of the Saint Marys Area School District. “The Dutch Manufacturing program offers courses that provide an overview of powdered metal and carbon — central to our local industry — as well as training in advanced manufacturing fundamentals, mechatronic systems, digital manufacturing systems, and advanced materials and design.”

Building on the success of the die setter training, the partnership expanded to develop an introductory welding program with the expertise of Martin Casilio, owner and operator of Hexcore Welding and Designs of Mt. Jewett. Casilio, a certified manufacturing technologist accredited by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, collaborated with Dutch Manufacturing instructors Jesse Schreiber and Ray Holtzhauser to reorganize the school’s welding space, equipment and materials. The first welding class launched on March 4.

Students are currently working on their initial project: constructing a cube that can be attached to an air hose and submerged to test the uniformity of their welds and detect any air leaks. While the project has proven challenging, students have embraced the opportunity to learn the shielded metal arc welding process. The 36-hour training also includes instruction in gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and oxyacetylene welding and cutting.

“The purpose of the class isn’t to turn these students into professional welders,” said John Brennan, director of continuing education at Penn State DuBois. “We want them to understand safety, terminology and basic welding processes so that no matter what career path they choose after high school, they have the confidence to realize there are jobs, training programs and degree options where these skills are valuable.”

The welding class, composed of 10th- and 11th-grade students, takes place during their regular Dutch Manufacturing class times. Casilio designed the projects to provide a balance between challenging tasks and practical skills relevant to manufacturing processes used in companies throughout the region.

“I’m already impressed by these students,” Casilio said. “They have embraced safety protocols and have a genuine interest in learning the processes. This project is designed to make them repeat tasks to refine their skills, and I think they’re really enjoying the challenge.”

With the addition of welding, Dutch Manufacturing continues to expand its offerings, allowing students to utilize the school’s lab space and equipment to assist local companies with production and create commercial products that showcase their skills.

“We’re very happy that our students are getting a diverse manufacturing experience,” Ramsey said. “Whether they go on to a local manufacturing career, college or trade school, these experiences show them that they have many opportunities to stay in our community and contribute to the success of our region.”

“At Penn State DuBois, we are deeply committed to supporting the economic vitality of our region through innovative workforce development efforts,” said Jungwoo Ryoo, chancellor and chief academic officer at Penn State DuBois. “This partnership with the Dutch Manufacturing program, delivered through our Continuing and Community Education, exemplifies this commitment by providing essential welding skills to the next generation of manufacturers. It's a testament to the strength we build when education and industry work together. The collaboration between Penn State DuBois, Saint Marys Area High School, and the manufacturing sector is a powerful model for workforce development. We are proud to offer these students in the Dutch Manufacturing program practical, real-world training like welding, opening doors to exciting career opportunities right here in our region.”

To learn more about the Dutch Manufacturing program, visit the program website.