“I couldn’t choose a better place to grasp the welding technology,” says Ralph Reckley of Freeport, Grand Bahama, during his recent training in Welding Technology and Blueprint Reading at Hobart Institute.  “I am very grateful that my company provides the opportunity for me to attend.  Many do not get such a chance.”

Ralph is employed as a maintenance welder at South Riding Point Holding Ltd., an oil storage facility in Freeport, Grand Bahama.  There are about 60 full time employees at South Riding Point, but Ralph is the only full time welder.  Contract welders are brought in when necessary.  Ralph began welding in 1985 as a trainee in a small vocational school. A few years later, a fellow worker, Herman McCree, introduced him to Hobart Institute training. Ralph has been returning to HIWT since he first attended a Safety in Welding and a Visual Inspection course in 1996.  He has also taken Weldability of Metals, Ferrous and Nonferrous and Arc Welding Inspection and Quality Control and he plans to return in future years, as company resources are available to him. 

Reading the World of Welding each quarter “inspires me to continue to advance my knowledge and skill in welding,” says Ralph.  “The instructors here are well-trained, the teaching methods are great, clear, and concise.  I hope to eventually become a certified welding inspector or educator.”

“Training in the Bahamas is limited to very basic oxyacetylene welding and manual shielded metal arc welding,” Ralph continues.  “There is so much to learn and it is essential for Bahamans to gain training so they will be able to compete in the Caribbean Single Economy that is currently being developed.  This will allow workers to move more freely among the various Caribbean countries (such as Jamaica, Trinidad, Bahamas) but it will also increase the competition for welding jobs.”

Welding jobs in the country have increased as well in recent years with the establishment of the Grand Bahama Shipyard, Ltd. and training is important.  Scholarships for foreign students would be most useful as funding is often times cited as one of the major factors that discourage traveling great distances to obtain training.

If you wish to contribute to a scholarship fund for foreign or domestic students, please contact Andre Odermatt at 1-800-332-9448, ext.5247 or 937-332-5247.  Or send a check designated for scholarships and payable to Hobart Institute and mail to 400 Trade Square East, Troy, OH 45373 USA.