Pellston High School has a strong welding program, and a local donation has just helped to make that course even stronger.
The high school recently received a donation of welding equipment and accessories from Brad Behrendt, the owner of Conway Professional Services. Behrendt is a local entrepreneur who added a welding arm to his company for a period of time before deciding to close it when his son’s career plans changed. He donated several items, including welders, a mag drill and more to the school’s program, which is led by construction technology and welding instructor Tanner Armantrout.
“He donated the (totality) of everything he had,” Armantrout said. “It’s an amazing gift. We have many students who want to go into the field because they recognize the value of such trade work.”
Pellston High School’s shop class attracts about 30 students per year, with many already in the field as seniors as part of a work release program. Several students go directly into the trades after graduation. Welding is one of several trade-related careers in high demand that allows students to work and often train for higher certifications directly after high school.
“They can make a really good living in a field like welding,” Armantrout said. “Many can afford to purchase their first home just around the time others are graduating from college and may be having to pay off debts. It’s a great option.”
Pellston offers welding instruction as part of a well-established Career and Technical Education program in partnership with the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District. The program is designed to give students hands-on training in welding, fabrication and metalworking while preparing them for employment, apprenticeships, military service or continued education after graduation.
Shop and welding students at Pellston often have resume-building achievements before they even graduate from high school. For example, a recent graduate built an entire air system as part of a project.
Armantrout said some of the welders Behrendt donated may be sold by the high school to raise funds for other materials for the welding program, but some of the welders will be used in class. He added that Behrendt’s donation amounts to thousands of dollars of items that otherwise would be impossible for the district to afford.
“There are a lot of items he donated that we could not afford because of our limited budget,” Armantrout said.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 457,300 welders were employed nationwide in 2024 with projected openings of about 45,600 per year over the decade. Those numbers include filling positions opened from retiring welders. While the statistics represent moderate growth, the bureau further indicated that welding positions may be underreported.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Pellston High School receives costly welding equipment donation
Reporting by M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
