Western Maine welding students graduate with a new set of skills

LEWISTON — Four students have graduated from a new customized professional welding program, a result of a parternship with Western Maine Community Action, located at the CareerCenter on Mollison Way, and Oxford Hills/Nezinscot Adult Education, and Bancroft Contracting Corporation in South Paris.
Students Kurtis Polisky, Dustin Paine, Ryan Stuart and Christopher Wiley completed the 72 hours of hands-on welding instruction, safety training,job-readiness skills training and an additional 20 hours of math for welders May 2.
The program offered students welding processes used by Bancroft Contracting Corporation and other local employers. All four students were offered an additional training opportunity and full-time employment at Bancroft through anon-the-job training program with support from WMCA Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Funding.
“Meeting today’s workforce needs requires innovation and partnership,” shares Saarinen. “Combining business, education, and job training is the best use of resources to train workers for current positions that lead to upward mobility.”
For more information on other programs available for training and partnerships, 207-753-9032 or email psaarinen@wmca.org.

PHOTO: From left, students Kurtis Polisky and Dustin Paine; Fred Locke, Bancroft welding instructor, ; Kyle Lamb, Bancroft project manager; students Ryan Stuart, Christopher Wiley; Patti Saarinen, WMCA program coordinator and representative for Central/Western Maine CareerCenters; and Tina Christopherson, Oxford Hills adult education. (Monica Millhime photo)