The fine folks at the Walt Disney World Resort knows that if they wants to hire qualified candidates to fill the resorts open trade skills positions (many of which are vital for building and maintaining it’s attractions), they’ll need to make sure local students receive the training they need to get started in a well-rounded trade skill position. That probably explains why Disney recently donated ten welding machines to several Central Florida vocational schools.
The donated equipment will help school districts in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole and Polk counties advance the technical ability of vocational students who are currently pursuing certification in trade skills such as plumbing, electrical, masonry and carpentry, among others. Westside Tech School, Lake Tech, Lyman High School, Ridge Career and Travis Career Centers, and Technical Education Center Osceola received the equipment.
“Before we received this donation, we could only teach welding to the students in the welding program”, said Rob Moody, building construction technology instructor at Westside Tech School in Orange County. “Now we are providing welding training to students who are pursuing certifications in other trades as well. The more skills they have, the better chances they have of getting a job.”
In classrooms around Central Florida, the welding machines are being used to weld several types of metals, especially thin sheet materials, giving students more control over the welding process. The equipment is ideal to perform a wide variety of complex welds such as automobile parts, hand railings and even ornamental gates and artwork.
“Walt Disney World Resort has a long-standing tradition of supporting education in Central Florida, so it was a natural fit to find an opportunity to benefit local students when we recently upgraded our equipment,” said Roger Arnold, director of Manufacturing at Walt Disney World. “We hope this donation helps give students a broader understanding of other industrial trades so they leave school with a well-rounded vocational career option.”
Disney supports education in many other ways including annual contributions to local school districts, and grants to Central Florida nonprofits devoted to early learning and student support. During the past year, Disney VoluntEARS donated more than 18,000 hours of service at local schools. Additionally, more than 400 students were selected as Disney Dreamers and Doers in schools across five counties, and 15 students were chosen as their county’s Shining Star at the elementary, middle, and high school levels