Welders Are in High Demand

Nolan Pijanowski is a senior from John F. Kennedy High School in the Cheektowaga-Sloan Union Free School District and is enrolled in the Welding program at Erie 1 BOCES Potter Career and Technical Education Center.

“I enrolled in BOCES because I want a job in the trades and welding was the most interesting,” said Nolan.

In the fall of 2024, following graduation, Nolan plans to receive an associate’s degree from Niagara County Community College and then get straight into the field of welding. Welding holds much of our world together, from buildings and bridges to airplanes and equipment. Under the instruction of Kurt Schoenhals, Nolan has learned to take a drawing or blueprint and breathe life into it by fabricating a life-size creation. Nolan knows he will have a bright future with many different job skills learned in this program.

“Nolan is an excellent, hard-working student,” said Schoenhals.

“This program has provided me an advantage to reach my goals by teaching me everything that I now know about welding,” said Nolan.

As part of public education, Erie 1 BOCES offers a variety of career and technical programs during the regular school day to high school students in Erie County. High school students interested in learning more about how they can participate in various programs, such as welding; occupational education; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; engineering and robotics; sports science; web and gaming technologies; or aviation technology, should visit www.e1b.org/cte or speak with their high school counselor.