Christian Peterson
Reporter@riverbendnews.org
The first week of school started on Tuesday, Aug. 16, and Hamilton County High School (HCHS) started off with a bang. RIVEROAK Technical College partners with schools all around the Suwannee Valley are no exception to this. Some HCHS students spent the first week of school developing proper welding techniques. This is because students have the option of a dual enrollment program with RIVEROAK on the HCHS campus. Part of this partnership allows students to be in all kinds of different programs through RIVEROAK, including Welding Technology.
The Welding Technology program is focused on preparing students with the necessary skills in the welding field. This involves learning welding techniques consistently used in the workforce, including shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux core arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding. Furthermore, the program teaches different types of oxygen and acetylene cutting and welding techniques, as well as proper safety precautions. On top of all this, the program is certified through the American Welding Society. It is a full time course offered at multiple high schools around the Suwannee Valley. For more information, visit www.rtc.suwannee.k12.fl.us.