West Virginia Northern Community College is accepting applications for $50,000 in scholarships for the fall semester for welding & petroleum technology students. The scholarships are available from WVNCC Foundation thanks to contributions from a local charitable foundation and Noble Energy. In addition to the new scholarships available, students who enter these programs in the fall semester will do so in WVNCC’s brand new facility, the Industrial Technology Center.
A local charitable foundation awarded $30,000 in scholarships in support of the college’s welding program expansion in the ITC and Noble Energy awarded $20,000 in scholarships so more students could be trained to meet the demands of the region’s growing oil and gas industry.
“We are extremely grateful to both Noble Energy and the local charitable foundation for their commitment to WVNCC students and our region,” commented WVNCC President, Dr. Vicki L. Riley. “These scholarships and our new Industrial Technology Center will provide an amazing opportunity for anyone who would like to learn and receive training in welding and petroleum technology.”
Anyone interested in applying for a scholarship can visit WVNCC’s Open House on March 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or visit www.wvncc.edu for more information.
As announced earlier this year, the ITC will open in time for the fall semester and will house WVNCC’s Welding and Petroleum Technology programs, allowing the college to expand both programs. The building is being re-purposed from an electrical supply warehouse to an open college lab space with over 20,000-square feet and will include a petroleum technology lab, a welding lab, classrooms, a student lounge and more.
Currently, the Welding and Petroleum Technology programs at WVNCC are confined by limited space. The renovation will more than double the amount of welding booths from eight to 20, including a handicapped-accessible booth. Petroleum Technology classes will now consist of an indoor and outdoor lab, which more closely replicates a real-world environment. The ITC Building will also include an additional area inside that will provide flexible space to accommodate new programs as needs are identified by industry.
WVNCC offers an Associates in Applied Science degree in their Petroleum Technology Program as well as a Certificate of Applied Science. The programs are designed to prepare students for employment in the natural gas drilling, gathering and field operations industry associated with development of the Marcellus and Utica Shales. The program provides a strong foundation in oil and gas exploration, production and development in the Appalachian Basin.
WVNCC’s Welding Technology Program teaches advanced welding skills that make students ideal candidates for employment for a wide range of industrial settings. Students in the program will weld plate and pipe in various processes in all positions to American Welding Society standards. All technical courses in the program provide extensive hands-on experience. Students receive a broad-based foundation in welding that includes Shielded Metal Arc Welding, TIG welding and MIG welding. In addition, students will be trained in reading prints with welding symbols and will have a basic understanding of metallurgy and layout and fabrication.
Students interested in these programs can enroll starting April 10, when registration for fall semester opens. Students enrolled in these programs for the fall semester at WVNCC will be able to take classes and have labs in the new ITC Building once classes start on Aug. 27. For more information on these programs visit www.wvncc.edu or call 304-233-5900.
West Virginia Northern Community College’s mission is to educate and empower individuals to achieve academic and career goals, leading to a highly skilled, well-rounded, and accomplished workforce which successfully competes and adapts in a global economy. The college responds to the needs of the region it serves by offering a high-quality learning environment that is accessible, safe, and accommodating while nurturing teamwork and community service.
