Miami, FL, July 11, 2024:  As demand for skilled welders in manufacturing and construction continues to soar, the American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation continues to provide financial assistance to educational institutions dedicated to training the next generation of welding professionals.

Each year, the AWS Foundation provides grant funding of up to $25,000 per location to secondary, post-secondary, and welder training facilities to enhance and expand welding education programs. Grant funding may be used on facility improvements, investing in welding or metalworking equipment, and upgrading computer-based training systems.

The AWS Foundation is proud to announce that 14 schools across the country have been selected to receive these grants, enabling them to elevate their training facilities and better equip students for the demands of the welding industry. The recipient schools are:

• Bristol Technical Education Center - Bristol, CT
• Capital Area Career Center - Springfield, IL
• Carrollton Area Career Center - Carrollton, MO
• Central Arizona College - Coolidge, AZ
• El Capitan High School - Merced, CA
• Indiana County Technology Center - Indiana, PA
• Lawrence-Nelson Community Schools - Nelson, NE
• Maple Mountain High School - Spanish Fork, UT
• Milton High School - Milton, WI
• Rimrock Jr./Sr. High School - Bruneau, ID
• Santa Fe Independent School District - Santa Fe, TX
• The MILL National Training Center - Colorado Springs, CO
• Tidioute Community Charter School - Tidioute, PA
• Tourtellotte Memorial High School - North Grosvenordale, CT

“Graduates of welding schools are in high demand nationwide, yet many institutions struggle to train enough individuals to meet the local industry's needs," said Monica Pfarr, Executive Director of the AWS Foundation. "We are pleased to support these schools in expanding their welding programs and applaud their commitment and dedication to training the next generation of welding technicians and professionals."

Welding is a critical and indispensable trade that is essential to modern life. However, the number of skilled welding technicians and professionals continues to decline. The AWS Foundation is dedicated to reversing this trend by supporting programs that promote the growth and development of the welding industry through research, education, and workforce development initiatives. In 2023, the AWS Foundation awarded more than $3 million in grants and scholarships to advance welding education.

For more information, visit aws.org/foundation

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About AWS Foundation: Founded in 1989, the AWS Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Welding Society, the nonprofit organization with a global mission to advance the science, technology, and, application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes. The AWS Foundation works to ensure the growth and development of the welding industry through various initiatives, including, career awareness, scholarship programs, and grants to institutions that offer welding education and training. As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we rely on the generosity of our partners who understand the value of welding and its role in building a better, stronger economy. aws.org/foundation.