Sparks of Creativity: Corcoran Welding Projects Showcase Student Talent

When the Corcoran High School welding shop opened in 2019, instructor Jose Ocasio knew he wanted to offer students a special final assignment. That year, and each year since, he has asked students to come up with a final project that would show their welding skills while also making a positive impact on their school community – or beyond.
 
That first year, students worked together to create a cougar head – representing the school’s mascot.
 
What initially served as a way for the welding students to learn teamwork and compromise has now grown to become a student favorite.
 
This year, Corcoran welding students planned three major year-end projects: a memorial bench to honor the son of a school staff member who passed away in a tragic accident; a stenciled sign for the school’s newly redesigned weight room; and a sculpture of student work, designed to represent the progression of students’ skills through the welding Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.
 
“My goal is for the students to work together as a team toward a common goal,” Mr. Ocasio explained. “I ask that projects adhere to three criteria: they have to be useful and have a purpose. I want to see students demonstrate everything they’ve learned and think critically. They have to benefit the community. I want our students to enjoy community service and feel a sense of pride in their community. Until we change how we see our school and our community, we can’t change other people’s views! And finally, they have to have meaning – they have to be unique. I want students to see that if they work hard or something, they can accomplish anything!”
 
Senior Tyler Pontello said he and some classmates wanted to create a bench for their school’s career counselor, who now runs a nonprofit in memory of her son.
 
“The bench has a cutout of her son carved into the back of it, and part of his old wrestling mat makes up the seat,” Tyler explained. “When we’re finished, it’ll be donated to the facility where her son used to wrestle. It makes me feel pretty good. She’s a great person, and we really wanted to do this for her. It’s great to be able to put our skills to use like this.”
 
Tyler will be joining the Marines next year but hopes to eventually pursue a career that will enable him to use his welding skills again.
 
Classmate Dalton Morgan helped make a memorial bench for his cousin last year, and is now sharing his expertise with his peers as they complete the new memorial bench.

“The bench I made was left at my uncle’s house,” Dalton shared. “It meant a lot to my family, to have a place where they could sit and remember my cousin. It was nice to use my skills to be able to do this for my family.”
 
Dalton plans to enter the workforce next year, joining a company where he will be traveling and welding water towers.
 
In addition to these senior projects, Mr. Ocasio’s welding students have also created a welded stand to assist the school’s theater students. Previously, changing false walls for different set designs during the school’s plays and musicals was a bit of a hassle and involved quite a lot of work. Now, false walls can be more easily changed and moved, thanks to a welded creation on wheels and with a series of pins.
 
We’re so proud of these CTE students for using their talents to better the community – while helping themselves become #SCSDCareerReady!