Welding students get boost

The Harlingen Cotton Committee presented the welding program at Southern Careers Institute a check which will be used for scholarships .Pictured are President of the Harlingen Cotton Committee Sam Simmons, Jr. (left) presenting the check to SCI Campus Director Scott Hooks. (Maricela Rodriguez/Valley Morning Star)

HARLINGEN — A welding certification is like a business degree in one respect: It can find you a job just about anywhere.

That’s why Sam Simmons Jr., president of Harlingen Cotton Committee, donated $10,000 in scholarship funds to the welding program at Southern Careers Institute Harlingen Campus. Students and representatives of both SCI and HCC gathered Friday for a small ceremony at the campus at 1122 Morgan Blvd.

“The cotton committee’s goal is to provide funding for education in the Valley,” Simmons said. “This year has been a difficult one. We had a lot of hard times.”

The funds were raised earlier this month through the auctioning off of the first bale of cotton. In past years, donations were made to Texas State Technical College. However, TSTC recently ended it’s agriculture program. Simmons indicated the lack of local training opportunities has made finding welders more difficult for industry. That’s why donation this year went to SCI, which hopes to graduate more than 100 welders this year, said Scott Hooks, campus director.

“We are honored, we are humbled with all this, that they want to bring $10,000 to this center,” Hooks said. “There are going to be 20 students who will receive $500 scholarships.”

The seven-month welding program costs $13,260, paid for through loans and grants from various sources including the Department of Education.

“We are extremely grateful,” Hooks said, before presenting Simmons with a large metal revolver with a grill inside, a piece created on campus.

Simmons explained the importance of welders in numerous sectors of society, including cotton farms.

“Let’s say I have a tractor break down in the field,” Simmons said. “I can’t go out and buy a new one. It helps to know someone who knows how to weld. I can’t fix it. This allows us to get it running again.”

Before the brief ceremony, welding students outside worked steadily on projects. One used a cutting torch on a project she called a “pre-test.” Another used a grinder on a round metal tabletop to “bring it back to life” as one student put it.

The young welders appreciated the assistance.

“I feel very glad that we received it,” said Victor Ayala, 18, who is more than halfway through the program.

“It’s very important to us because we are working on our skills,” he said.

Lead Instructor Jose Reyes shared a similar sentiment.

“I am glad they are getting that,” he said. “They work very hard so they deserve it.”


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