AWS Foundation awards Light a Spark Grant to seven schools

The American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation, in partnership with Miller Electric Mfg. LLC and Bechtel Group Foundation, has announced the recipients of the Light a Spark Grant for 2023:

• Bell City High School — Bell City, Mo.
• Griggs County Central School — Cooperstown, N.D.
• Millennium High School — Goodyear, Ariz.
• Mountain View High School — Lawrenceville, Ga.
• Northern Cass School — Hunter, N.D.
• Warren Hills Regional High School — Washington, N.J.
• Wildwood Middle-High School — Sumterville, Fla.

The Light a Spark Grant brings welding back to high school with a turnkey Miller equipment package valued at more than $14,000. Each package includes a multiprocess welding machine, plasma cutter, supplies, personal protective equipment, and a MobileArc augmented reality welding system.

“The AWS Foundation is extremely pleased to offer this grant to high schools that do not currently offer a welding program. Thanks to Miller Electric and Bechtel Group Foundation, hundreds of students will have the opportunity to experience welding for the first time and consider the possibility of welding as a career,” said AWS Foundation Executive Director Monica Pfarr.

“These kits make it easy for educators to offer realistic learning experiences and position students for success in community college and university programs,” said LeeAnne Lang, president of Bechtel Group Foundation.