October Student of the Month

The Mustangs return to Weldland

One of our favorite feeder schools, Kennesaw Mountain High School, which has produced so many great welders working in shipbuilding, fabrication and manufacturing, brought the next generation to GTS this month. Construction Education Teacher, Jeremy Whitaker reports that the visit was a tremendous success:
 
One of Mr. Whitaker’s students from 2014 is already working at Caterpillar in Athens earning over 50,000 annually at age 18!
 
If you would like to bring your class to GTS for a field trip experience unlike any other, contact Joanna at jblythe@georgiatradeschool.com. 

Pictured below are students from KMHS with Mr. Jeremy Whitaker during their welding field trip. 

Expansion

 

You asked for it, now you get it - we are growing in our current facility to teach 45 welders daily. GTS student and electrician Dutch Matthews (pictured below) assisted GTS VP Sean Quinton in preparing for our new booths and welders. We also want to thank our friends at Lincoln Electric for their continued support of the school. Our students are very excited about the new machines. 

 

With classes running from 7AM to 10PM we are like the welding version of IHOP!!  

---

Battleship by Night
 

Georgia Trade School had a blast at the Fall Gulf States Shipbuilders Consortium meeting, highlighted by a private cocktail party and dinner onboard the World War 2 Battleship Alabama (pictured below). GTS Founder Ryan Blythe networked with leaders from Huntington Ingalls, Austal, Miller, Bollinger and the Alabama Technology Network. The 83 members of our consortium represent the leaders in shipbuilding, suppliers, education and economic development dedicated to raising awareness of the critical need for technical skills among workforces from Florida to Texas.
During this conference, Ryan attended a presentation by NY Times Bestselling Author Kevin Sheridan. Kevin presented the power of a dynamic and magnetic culture and the importance of having fun in your job. Mr. Sheridan lectures worldwide with some of the most iconic brands in the country, including Disney. Ryan is continuing to communicate with Kevin in hopes of bringing him to Metro Atlanta in 2016. 

---

Careers not Jobs 
 

Congratulations to all of the recent graduates who continue to impress us with their dedication to their craft! The single most important mission of our school is to assist our graduates with a career not just a job, and with mastering skills that are valuable in the marketplace (evidenced below!). 

 
Kyle Register - TecTonics
Justin Rozzell - Bradley USA
Corey Johnston - B&M Fabrication
Jordan Cahill - Simpack
Zach Bauman - Ingalls Shipbuilding
Russell Robinson - H&H Industrial Maintenance
Lucas Taylor - Paradise Fabrication
Josh Rhoades - Ingalls Shipbuilding
Kat Terrell - Ingalls shipbuilding
Tanner Robertson - Awnings Above
Nick Smith - UniStructures
Evan O'Connor - UniStructures
Michael Craddock - UniStructures
 

---