The leaders of Laredo Community College and Laredo Independent School District gathered Monday on the college campus to launch a new and innovative educational partnership in welding.
Fred Solis Jr., Dean of Workforce Education at LCC; Imelda Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant for LISD Secondary Instruction; and Ricardo Hinojosa, Director of the South Texas Tech Prep Consortium; announced the joint venture in a signing ceremony held in Laird Hall, room 124.
Through an articulation agreement, LISD high school students will be able to earn up to nine college credit hours that can be applied later after graduation if they choose to pursue a one-year Certificate of completion in Welding at LCC.
The college, said Solis, is pleased to be addressing a need to produce qualified welders for the city.
“Careers, such as welding, are sometimes overlooked in today’s modern and technology-driven society,” said Solis. “But the need is there. Look around and you will notice the tremendous construction activity occurring in the city. The need is so great that it has become necessary to import welders with specializations from other cities. Laredo Community College is excited to be working with our partners to train our students and strengthen this vital workforce.”
Rodriguez commended the college and Tech Prep for working with LISD to make this partnership a reality.
“Laredo ISD strongly supports initiatives that open pathways to students. It’s a win-win situation for the school district, the college, and most importantly, the student.”
The high school to college articulated coursework between LCC and LISD was facilitated by the federally-funded South Texas Tech Prep program on the college campus.
Students can take the articulated courses—Welding I, followed by Welding II—in their junior and senior years in high school. Students must pass each course with a grade of 80 or better.
School officials recommend that students visit their school counselors to ensure that they are enrolled in the appropriate curriculum for the certificate plan.
To claim the Tech Prep “credit-in-escrow,” the student must enroll within 15 months at LCC after receiving a high school diploma and complete six hours of college credit within the Welding one-year certificate program at LCC.
For more information, parents and students may contact Ricardo Hinojosa by calling 721-5165 or by e-mail at richinojosa@laredo.edu.
OPENING A PATHWAY: Officials from Laredo Community College, Laredo ISD and the South Texas Tech Prep program gathered at the college campus on Monday to initiate a new partnership that will increase opportunities for high school students to pursue careers in welding. Among those present were, from left, seated, Imelda Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant for LISD Secondary Instruction; Fred Solis, Jr., Dean of Workforce Education at LCC; Ricardo Hinojosa, Director of South Texas Tech Prep; standing, Dr. Neida Estringel, Director for LISD Secondary Administration; Fortunato Aldape, LCC Industrial Trades Chairperson; and LCC Welding Instructor Gilberto Martinez.
Officials and students from Laredo Community College and Laredo Independent School District who attended the launch for the one-year Welding Certificate program articulation, included, from left, seated, LCC Welding Instructor Gilberto Martinez, LCC Industrial Trades Department Chair Fortunato Aldape, LISD C.A.T.E. Counselor Laura Aguilar, Martin H.S. welding teacher Severo R. Flores; standing, South Texas Tech Prep Director Ricardo Hinojosa, Martin H.S. welding students Victor Garza, Candy Ochoa and Nicolas Martinez, and LCC Dean of Workforce Education Fred Solis, Jr.
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