Have you thanked your welding instructor today?

A few weekends ago I was at home sitting on the couch, scrolling through my Facebook feed. As I was doing this I ran across a post about my elementary school basketball coach alerting her network of Facebook friends of her recent passing. It didn’t say why or how she died, but from the context it appeared as though she had been suffering from an illness for some time.

Though I hadn’t spoken to or even seen my former coach in more than 20 years, it made me sad to think that I never thanked her for putting up with a ragtag bunch of 10 to 12-year-olds or sitting through basketball games where the final score was, at times, only in the single digits. I never thanked her for always encouraging me to shoot, even though my jump shot was ugly and I missed a vast majority of those shots … badly. I never thanked her for teaching me how to enjoy the art of competing and always providing support versus criticism.

I know she never expected a thank you, nor is that the reason she coached, but still. I had plenty of time and opportunities over the last 20 years to write a simple note of thanks and I didn’t. Now, I’ve missed my opportunity.

It seems like a small gesture, but being told of the positive impact you’ve made on someone else can be life-changing. For the past four years our PWTeacher of the Year program has provided a platform for readers to honor and, by extension, thank a welding instructor who has been instrumental in their personal and professional growth. I’ve received e-mails and hand-written letters from welding students, industry professionals, and even spouses, and from those nominations I’ve been able to meet four incredible people who have poured their hearts and souls into their welding programs and students. It’s been a wonderful experience for me personally and I look forward to doing it again this year.

We can’t do this without you, and therefore need your help in identifying our next PWTeacher of the Year recipient. We realize that there are a plethora of instructors out there who have touched lives and made an indelible impact on students, fellow instructors, and members of the community, so here’s what we’re looking for: The instructor must be active in his or her community in an effort to promote the welding program and the welding industry as a whole; use his or her welding program to serve the community or address a need within the community; employ unique teaching methods; partner with local industrial companies to ensure students’ skill sets address local needs; and ensure the safety of students at all times.

Please e-mail your nomination to amandac@thefabricator.com and be sure to include a detailed statement as to why the individual you are nominating is deserving of the award. There is no limit to the number of people who can write in on behalf of the instructor. The deadline to submit your nomination is March 7. The winner will be the focal point of a cover feature to be published in the May/June issue.

You can read about our past winners here:

2015: Glenn Kay II, Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Mich.

2014: Darrell Hopper, Piedmont Community College, Roxboro, N.C.

2013: Scott Schreiber, Green River Community College, Auburn, Wash.

2012: Jaime Shaker, Calumet Welding Center, Griffith, Ind.