Carroll County High School senior Blake Jones has welding in his blood and it shows in the performance he has returned during his two years in the trade program.
Blake was one of several CCHS Area Technology Center students who competed in Grant County for scholarships and welding equipment last month. Blake placed third among 65 students in the torch-cutting contest.
“Everybody was nervous, but we just concentrated on what we knew how to do,” Jones said. His skills were rewarded with a $250 scholarship to Tulsa Welding School and a new welding helmet valued at several hundred dollars.
He is a second-year student at the ATC and is looking forward to a career as an ironworker. Jones said he has watched his dad work in the industry, travel throughout the United States and he would like to follow in his footsteps.
Jones said it’s important for young welders to find a mentor who can show you how to perform welds and learn about the trade. His dad fills that bill for Jones even though he travels a lot for work. “If I need help I’ll just text him and ask him for some advice,” Jones said, noting his dad was very excited about his performance at the torch-cutting competition.
The one thing Jones said he has learned - “You have to be alright with getting burned.” Gloves and jackets offer some protection, but Jones said he has still been burned plenty of times.
Welding has come naturally to the young man. He has already obtained certifications in the vertical and overhead processes. Welding instructor Justin Tingle offers five types of certifications in his class and Jones is working on some of the more advanced skills.
The hardest part of welding for Jones has been learning which metals do and do not go together. For example, stainless steel and aluminum cannot be brought together.
Jones said he thinks every high school student should spend some time at the ATC and learn something about a trade.
“Blake is always eager to do whatever needs to be done,” Tingle said. “His skill level is very high and is better than 75 percent of the men I have come across in the field already. He will be a great addition to the ironworking trades.”