MUSCATINE, Iowa - The orange spray of sparks flying from Dale Hayes’ welder during the annual arc welding contest at Muscatine High School Saturday symbolized the sophomore’s future ambitions.

“I’m going into the Air Force to weld,” said Hayes. “The industrial arts program at MHS teaches kids to weld really well.”

Hayes’ teacher, Paul Hein, began the welding contest 12 years ago as a way of determining which students to take to the annual, regional competitions at Scott and Kirkwood community colleges in Davenport and Cedar Rapids.

In addition to securing spots in those competitions, the top six students out of the 28 who competed Saturday will receive prizes donated by area businesses, such as office chairs from the Hon Co., and gift certificates from local restaurants.

The community college competitions offer higher stakes, such as a  MIG (metal inert gas) welder valued at $1,000.

But Hein’s ambitions for the students go beyond contests.

A sign in his classroom reads, “MHS welding: Helping build the strength of Muscatine.”

He knows his students  can strengthen Iowa’s workforce by joining it as adults.

Skilled laborers are retiring in record numbers, said Hein, and they need to be replaced.

“Welding is a wide-open field right now,” he said.

Thad Holtz, 20, a judge in Saturday’s contest, took first-place in the Kirkwood Community College welding event in 2007, his senior year at MHS.

Now he’s completing his second year in that college’s welding program and is strongly considering staying in Iowa to work.

“This is something I’m gifted at,” said Holtz. “It comes naturally to me.”

One way Hein encourages his students is by recognizing their accomplishments throughout the year.

“I pick two welding students who have been doing an excellent job as “MHS welders of the month” and display their names in the hallway for all to see,” said Hein. “The kids enjoy that.”

Hein also encourages students to use their imaginations.

Nearly a dozen original metal sculptures, from bugs  to a swaying fisherman, are displayed in his classroom, representing the art projects he assigns.

“It’s all in how creative you want to be,” said Hein.

Many of Hein’s students, such as senior Cody See, complete all four years of his welding program.

“This is what I’m going to do the rest of my life,” said See, who works with his dad, Rick See, at the Louisa County Generating Station. See cited the MHS welding program as experience when he applied for that job.

“Not all students are college-bound,” said Hein. “Some want to get into the workforce. We’ve had other students hired right out of high school after finishing the welding program.”

MHS offers other career-track programs, including woodworking, auto mechanics and engineering.

Hein said he has more boys in his classes than girls, but he encourages girls to consider industrial arts.

“I have had some excellent girl welders,” he said. “One of them has graduated and is working at Hoffman Inc. in Muscatine right now.”

Details

Winners of the 2009 Muscatine High School arc welding competition:

First place, Matt Lindle; second place, Cody Lothridge; third place, Cole Reed; fourth place, Travis Hoag; fifth place, Jake Sell and sixth place, Jesse Wetzel.

These students will have the opportunity to compete in the annual welding contests hosted by Scott and Kirkwood community colleges in Davenport and Cedar Rapids. Nick Hanssen is an alternate for the contests.

To learn more about welding courses at Muscatine High School, contact instructor Paul Hein at 263-6141.