When something phenomenal is happening, watching the growth and potential unfold becomes infectious.
That is what is occurring with the welding program at Red Mountain High School. Dan Hurst, along with extensive support from the district and administration, is taking his program to new levels, which, in turn, is changing the lives of the students enrolled in the class.
An extension of the welding class is the welding team. “I had no experience in welding prior to this class,” Co-Captain Chase Diersen, a junior, stated. “I took the elective because I thought it would be fun, and it was something to do with my hands.” Now, Chase is looking to attend a school for welding, in Cleveland, Ohio, and getting his degree.
For the second year in a row, Red Mountain High School students won the combined team build project in the Best in the West Invitational Welding Contest, which took place this past March at Vern Lewis Welding Supply in Phoenix. The Red Mountain team was one of 16 teams competing from around the state. Red Mountain’s team project was to construct an industrial pallet used to transport gas cylinders.
Red Mountain team members included Zach Griggs (captain), Chase Diersen (co-captain), Cole Carver, Cole Liesner, Hunter Atwater, Hunter Cavanagh, Bryce LeSueur, Brittany Chavez and Osman Quinones Arredondo.
Not only did Red Mountain High School win the title, there were two members who competed in individual competitions. Cole placed second in the tungsten inert gas (TIG) competition, while Brittany competed in the vertical stick weld. Kudos to her for entering the competition. This is her first year in the welding class.
Bryce, a sophomore, is another first-year welder. He participates in engineering and robotics classes. Those interests prompted him to investigate the welding elective to see how he could integrate his skills. He runs the plasma table for the team. “Mr. Hurst knows so much, and he is bubbling over with information,” Bryce said. “He is a good hands-on teacher.”
Zach, a senior, started welding his sophomore year to be able to work on his race cars. Being in this class, he has learned TIG welding, as well as refining his welding skills.
Besides the competition, the students involved in welding class are responsible for creating items for the school, bringing the real-life experience to the students. They experience the accomplishment and school pride associated with having contributed to the overall atmosphere of the school. Be on the lookout for new number signs on the buildings, as well as a cart the track team uses to haul equipment. As the welding program continues to grow, there also is the collaboration with other classes, like auto shop and the agricultural department.
Coach Hurst is incredibly proud of the Red Mountain team. “This competition allows the students to think outside the box and showcase their abilities with students from around the state,” he said. “Winning is just the icing on the cake. The ability to meet other students engaged in the same skill set gives the team pride and confidence.”
If you are looking for an elective to impact your life in more ways than you can imagine, check out Dan Hurst’s welding class. For more information, contact Red Mountain High School at www.mpsaz.org/redmountain, or call Dan at (480) 472-8225.