Photo courtesy of Kirkwood Washington Regional Center

Three high school students have received their American Welding Society certifications through their coursework at the Kirkwood Washington Regional Center, including the program’s first female student. The three students and newly certified welders are London Schrock of Hillcrest Academy, Lanie Bowlin of the Mid-Prairie Home School Association, and Chance Brown of Washington High School.

Bowlin is the first female student at the regional center to earn AWS certification through career academy coursework. She had previously taken a welding course at Mid-Prairie High School and had been encouraged by her instructor Lucas Troyer to grow her skills at the welding academy at the Washington County Regional Center. Bowlin plans to go to Texas after high school to specialize in underwater welding at a trade school.

The AWS certification the three students earned are nationally recognized and show the welder’s ability to produce welds according to industry standards.