Hernandez Named September’s Student of the Month
CANTON — Superintendent Jill Rossetti, Principal Geoffrey Zini, Vocational Director Michelle Sylvia and Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies Lead Instructor Brian Gearty would like to extend their sincere congratulations to Blue Hills Metal Fabrication student Alyse Hernandez for receiving her welding certification.
Hernandez, a senior in the Blue Hills Regional Metal Fabrication program, is the first female high school student in the school’s 55-year history to receive her American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Certification. She completed and received her certification last spring during her junior year.
The certification is a reflection of the experience, training and work efficiency Hernandez possesses, which in turn will assist her in handling the challenges present in the welding profession.
“Alyse is one of the hardest working students I’ve had the privilege of instructing in my 24 years of teaching,” Gearty said. “She set a goal to become a certified welder as soon as we returned to school for full-time instruction following the time we spent in remote learning and has accomplished just that. Alyse is a well-equipped, experienced welder and upon her graduation, any employer would be lucky to have her.”
Hernandez welded almost every day from 7:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. and even wanted to skip lunch and breaks at times to continue her work in preparation for the welding certification exam. To receive the welding certification, she had to meet the American Welding Society’s rigorous standards and undergo an evaluation. As part of the process, Hernandez completed a series of written examinations and performance tests that tested her overall knowledge of welding as well as her potential level of competence in the field.
“We’re all extremely proud of Alyse for being the first female in our school’s history to receive her welding certification,” Director Sylvia said. “This accomplishment should serve as proof that any student can accomplish what they set their minds to, regardless of their gender or age. We hope to see many of our students following in Alyse’s footsteps in pursuit of career certifications.”
Blue Hills Regional administrators recognized Hernandez for her hard work and accomplishments by naming her September’s Student of the Month.
“Every month we like to recognize and honor students who go above and beyond what is asked of them and truly excel in their areas of expertise,” Superintendent Rossetti said. “It’s a pleasure of ours to name Alyse as September’s Student of the Month in recognition of her receiving her welder’s certification. By receiving this certification, Alyse has helped to further break down any gender barriers that may exist that discourage others from pursuing a career path that is considered “non-traditional” for their gender. We congratulate Alyse and look forward to the bright future she has ahead of her in the welding profession.”
Since receiving her AWS D1.1 Certification, Hernandez has inspired numerous classmates in the Metal Fabrication program to also pursue the certification. She has provided them with tips, support and confidence to assist them in their efforts.
Hernandez also plans to pursue her overhead welding certificate in the near future. Upon her graduation in the spring, she hopes to join the Iron Workers Union.
About Blue Hills Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies Program
The Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies Program trains students in metal fabrication practices including layout, forming, rolling, bending, punching, shearing and inspection using the latest manual and semi-automatic equipment found in today’s fabrication facilities. Welding processes taught include Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), as well as OxyFuel Gas Cutting.
About American Welding Society
The American Welding Society (AWS) was founded in 1919, as a nonprofit organization with a global mission to advance the science, technology and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering and thermal spraying. AWS strives to move the industry forward in both thought and action, as well as inspire new generations to see the exciting career opportunities available today.
To learn more about the (AWS) D1.1 Certification, click here.
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