Silver City NM- Western New Mexico University is home to many different schools of higher education. Among those is one school in particular; the School of Applied Technology. This is where students come to get certifications in trade positions such as welding, carpentry, and electrical. Not many people know about this exciting and exhilarating program, but those who do know have big plans for the future. Among the best in the class there are three that stand out the most; these are their stories.
Tania Ramos is a 17-year-old high school student from Deming, New Mexico. Her expected graduation date is in May of 2017 and she couldn’t be more excited. “When I graduate with my degree from high school I will also be graduating with one year of welding under my belt,” said Ramos. This is an exceptional feat for any student but even more so Ramos.
Among other things Ramos is a teenage mother to a beautiful baby boy as well as the only girl to be in the welding program. She says that sometimes the boys underestimate her but her favorite part is proving everyone wrong. Her dream job is to work for the pipelines or the mines and make enough money to provide for her and her family. Her goals include getting a house and being at the top of her class. “My entire family has always had something to do with welding,” said Ramos, “I just want to show the world that a woman can do a man’s job.” Her favorite type of weld is the TIG weld and she is expected to complete the program in May of 2018.
You could say that this next individual is not your traditional student. Esrirdion S. Padilla is a 53-year-old man from Bayard. He graduated from Cobre in 1982 and has three daughters, the youngest being 16. Although he has been welding since he was 14 years old he says that “he wanted to learn how to do it the right way.” He began the program in August this year and is excited to get all of the experience he can.
When asked why he likes to weld he said “I like coming to school. It’s like a job, and that’s what I want; a good job.” In fact, he has big plans for a job after graduation like getting a job with the State or, like so many others working for a mine. He has no favorite weld but he really likes what he does. His enthusiasm for the program and his willingness to share makes one of the best known in the class. He expects great things from himself and so does this program
Marco Arvizo comes into the office and takes a seat. He has an air about him, like he likes what he does and he is good at it. He has just turned 19 and commutes every day from Lordsburg. He is a 2016 graduate and wants to be a professional welder and teacher. When asked why he chose welding he said this: “I like the hands on techniques and the honesty of my instructor. I know that here I am getting a quality education.”
Arvizo is a full-time college student and works in the mail room here at WNMU. His dream job would be to go work in Alaska or for the pipelines, but as mentioned he wouldn’t mind being a teacher as well. He was taught the basics at a very young age by his uncle and he also believes that more girls should weld. “I want to know that I can do something for myself, to take care of myself,” said Arvizo, “and welding allows me to do that while making some good money for myself.” He is expected to graduate on time with his class and plans to move to Las Cruces in order to get his AWS certification meaning he can weld in more locations in the United States as well as Internationally.
All in all, WNMU School of Applied Technology is a great success for members of our community as well as for those outside of it. Are you interested? Come check it out. The Mustang recently published an article breaking down everything a student can learn from the Applied Technology program.
