Through daily, hands-on work and exposure to industry-standard equipment, students in the new Welding program at the Center for Career Services have made significant strides in its inaugural year.
The new program, which, along with HVAC, was introduced for the 2025–26 school year, has provided students with access to state-of-the-art equipment and consistent, hands-on learning opportunities under the guidance of instructor Peter Campbell.
Over the course of the year, students developed their skills by working directly with tools and materials, gaining experience in three essential welding techniques: MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding), TIG (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) and Stick (Shielded Metal Arc Welding).
“The experience has been great,” Campbell said. “I started out with a very good group of students. The space we have is great. We have very good equipment, and they’ve done great work. You can see the projects throughout the classroom.”
Campbell, who brought years of professional welding and teaching experience into the classroom, said he has been impressed with how quickly students have progressed from foundational skills to more advanced applications.
“This program has been great,” said Nicholas Villanova, a Port Chester High School junior who built on his early interest in welding to achieve success beyond the classroom. “I heard this was new and deiced to try it out. I’ve been exposed to many different processes in welding. Mr. Campbell is a great teacher who is definitely very focused on hands-on learning.”
Villanova’s progress was clear: He placed second in the SkillsUSA Area IV Regional Competition last winter and followed that with a sixth-place finish at the SkillsUSA New York State competition in April.
The program’s emphasis on hands-on learning has been a defining feature for all students, with many spending time actively welding and completing projects. This practical experience has helped reinforce classroom instruction while preparing students for real-world applications in the field.
As the inaugural year comes to a close, the strong performance of students—both in the classroom and in competition—highlights the program’s early success. With another year ahead to refine their skills, students are well on their way to turning their training into future career opportunities.
“I feel very confident about what they’ve been exposed to this year,” Campbell said. “If this is something they want to continue in, I personally believe they are on the right track to be successful.”