Former CHS students are using their success in life after high school and taking time to give back to their alma mater by sharing what they’ve learned with current students. Welding classes are part of the Career Technical Agricultural Education Department (CTAE) at CHS. The classes offer students a daily opportunity to practice real world work that is performed in the welding industry. Often, Instructor Jeff Owings invites CHS graduates who have been successful in the welding career field to come back and work with students in his classes.  Mr. Owings feels that inviting professionals into his shop gives students a sense of authenticity to what he is trying to teach in his classes. “The students that come back are professional welders. They were students here not long ago and have continued to develop their welding skills at higher level institutions. They are proof to students that welding is a good career and that it’s possible to take what they learn in class and apply it in the real world and make a very nice living. They provide motivation to current students and they help me by being an extra set of hands and expertise when working with a full class. They also like to show off some of the more difficult welding maneuvers and impress students,” says Owings.

Welding classes are just one of the many real world classes offered at CHS. Students involved in CTAE classes  are preparing daily to enter into post secondary training programs with skills that will put them ahead of the class.