Once again an Old Colony (OC) student has stretched himself in pursuit of demonstrating his skills in a specific trade while at the same time demonstrating all-round academic achievement.
SkillsUSA is an organization that promotes vocational training, but it also requires that students develop what might be called humanities skills that speak to their character such as responsibility, self-motivation, communication capabilities, leadership, and teamwork.
The competitions, which are managed at the local level, represent a wide variety of “shop” skills, and require not only that a student perform the specific trade by producing evidence of their skill set, but that they also provide a written narrative that may include graphs, diagrams, engineered drawings, and a whole lot of technical language.
Rochester resident and OC senior Riley Reed did all of that recently and earned a silver metal placement in welding for his effort.
When The Wanderercaught up with Reed, he was sustaining himself through a busy Monday morning with a supply of Pop Tarts and looking forward to graduation day.
When asked how his experience had been these last four years at school, he expounded, “Good.” Okay, maybe ‘expounded’ was a stretch, but Reed’s warm smile spoke volumes.
Reed said his school is different from traditional high schools in that the students are able to solve more problems and, through the leadership and guidance of their instructors, able to develop an interest that could become a real marketable skill. After spending time in each of the seven shops offered at the school, freshmen are required to pick one to focus on. Reed’s father works in sheet metal sales, so he felt comfortable selecting welding.
Reed’s shop instructor, Lance Davenport, is very impressed with his student’s accomplishments, but, moreover, impressed with the young man himself.
“You know, he’s a good kid,” Davenport began. “I was really surprised with the things he came up with on his own.” He pointed out an area on the hood of the model that required torch techniques to apply a patina to the metal.
Reed also displayed an artisan’s eye, and when asked if he felt he had artistic talents, he smiled again and nodded ‘yes’. He’s thinking about enrolling in art classes after graduation. He proudly shared photographs from his portfolio of other metal objects he had created – a decorative fish and a smooth, shiny, giant fishhook. He also spoke about a stool, airplane, and fire pit as other pieces he had completed – tangible evidence of his technical skills and artistic predisposition.
“He can get a job right out of school, ” Davenport said of Reed’s welding skills. He explained that employers will certify welders in very specific types of welding while the school gives the student training in the basic types: shielded metal arc welding, stick welding, gas metal arc welding known as MIG, flux cored arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding.
For the truck model, Davenport said that Reed had utilized the MIG method. The types of welds used in the trade are butt, lap, tee, edge, and corner, all of which Reed has mastered.
“It’s tough,” Reed said of the school. Yet, he also appreciated the depth of knowledge he had gained.
Davenport said Reed was not one to blow his own horn, saying Reed would do well after graduating and that he had expressed an interest in working at ski resorts where he could use his welding skills and ski.
“He’s one heck of a good skier,” Davenport shared.
While Reed may have a hard time talking about himself, those who know him speak of his focus, willingness to try hard, ability to finish what he starts, and his likeability.
“He’s amazing,” said his employer, Lisa Bindas. “He is self-motivated, very reliable, a problem solver, and very good with the customers.” Reed said his favorite part of the job was building furniture and delivering the pieces to customers.
To learn more about Old Colony’s outstanding students and programs, visit www.oldcolony.us.
By Marilou Newell
