Leaders in Lincoln County Schools (LCS) recently celebrated the grand opening of a state-of-the-art welding lab at Lincoln County High School (LCHS), a pivotal element of their Innovative School Model. Supervisor of Career and Technical Education, Susan Welch and welding instructor David Dempsey leveraged labor and workforce data, feedback from community and industry partners, and student input to transform existing space into a modern facility designed to expand student opportunities in welding.
The new lab features updated ventilation, advanced electrical wiring, a cutting-edge camera system, and industry-standard equipment across 20 welding bays. Thanks to these enhanced facilities and a partnership with TCAT, students now have the chance to earn American Welding Society (AWS) industry credentials and postsecondary credits while still in high school. This initiative paves the way for students to enter high-demand, high-wage welding careers with a streamlined path to success.