Cason Davis Sparks Success Through OFTC’s Welding Program
Louisville, Ga., (OFTC) –Cason Davis discovered his passion for welding during high school through SkillsUSA. After competing in regional competitions and feeling the spark of excitement each time he worked with metal, he knew welding was the career path he wanted to follow after graduation.
But Davis was unsure of where to continue his education, so he decided to go straight to work and began his welding career at Ostro Steel Structures in Louisville.
He works with Ostro’s production team, running the production line and assisting his teammates as needed.
“I enjoy working with my hands and I enjoy making things,” Davis shared, “so welding is the best of both worlds. I enjoy the satisfaction of producing good quality welds and work.”
Though his leadership and drive helped him stand out at Ostro, Davis knew expanding his knowledge of welding processes was key to advancing his career, which motivated him to further his education in welding.
That’s when he found Oconee Fall Line Technical College’s (OFTC) Jefferson County Center in Louisville.
OFTC’s Flexible Environment
He enrolled in the Welding and Joining Technology program and worked with his instructor to take classes at a time convenient with his work schedule.
“Thankfully, Ostro has allowed me to go to class during the workweek and my instructor has been willing to accommodate my work schedule,” Davis said.
He does the book work required for his welding classes online, after he gets home from work every night, and usually spends a day or two a week in the on campus welding lab, performing the hands-on assignments for his program.
“Davis comes into the lab and works extremely hard,” shared OFTC Welding Instructor, Jeff Partridge. “His dedication and work ethic allow him to move quickly through his assignments.”
“I put in a lot of effort into my work in the welding lab,” Davis added. “I do my best to stay ahead and finish my assignments early.”
Even though it seems Davis is welding from dawn to dusk, he says he enjoys it which is a good indicator that he’s in the right profession.
“OFTC’s welding program has given me the opportunity to gain the practice I need to become a better welder,” he said. “I’ve been able to expand my knowledge about reading blueprints, metallurgy, different welding processes and more.”
A Bright Future
The knowledge he’s gained from his training at OFTC gives Davis confidence that he’ll succeed in his career as a welder.
“OFTC has been a great experience all around,” he said. “It’s a tight knit community and your instructors are there to not only help you learn the skills, but to help you make connections for job placement after graduation.”
Davis is on track to complete his Welding and Joining Technology Diploma in the spring and plans to work for the Local 709 Union once he graduates.
“I plan to graduate, buy a house in Augusta and start working in the union as my career,” he shared. “I am thankful for my education from OFTC and my experience at Ostro which has allowed me to be well on my way to reaching all of my goals.”
To learn more about OFTC’s Welding & Joining Technology program, or the other 130+ programs of study available, visit the College’s website, OFTC.edu.
Many of the College’s welding programs are eligible for the Hope Career Grant, which is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them.
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OFTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.
