School District of Rhinelander receives $25,000 grant

The School District of Rhinelander was recently awarded an American Welding Society (AWS) Welding Workforce Grant.

 Grants up to $25,000 were available for secondary and post-secondary education/training institutions to enhance and improve welding programs resulting in an increase in the number of welding graduates and/or the number of graduates successfully placed in welding or welding-related jobs, according to a press release announcing the grant.

 “The grant the District received is for the full $25,000,” the release said. “These funds will be allocated toward the purchase of various welding equipment and machines located at Rhinelander High School.”

 "The AWS Foundation is proud to support the welding program at the School District of Rhinelander," said Monica Pfarr, executive director. "As the industry continues to face a shortage of welding professionals, institutions such as the School District of Rhinelander are rising to meet the challenge. We look forward to seeing the program grow to serve the needs of local fabricators and manufacturers."

 “We are very appreciative of AWS for awarding SDR with this generous grant,” said Shane Dornfeld, Rhinelander High School Principal. “Our students will greatly benefit from using the new equipment we will purchase with these funds.”

 The AWS Foundation is committed to securing the future of the welding industry by positively impacting welding education. The Welding Workforce Grant is the latest effort to ensure a skilled workforce is ready when industry calls.