Appreciation for the artistic aspect of welding is shared by Metal Fabrication Instructor Neil Mansfield with his students at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School (AVRTHS) in Marlborough, Massachusetts.  From Artist – Blacksmith’s Association of North America, Inc. (ABANA) Neil obtained the design for a large, forged grill with a welded frame that will hold twenty unique nine-inch welded rings created by his students.  Beneath each ring, into a piece of heavy copper, is stamped the student’s name, class and date.   The grill panel that measures eight feet tall and seven feet wide is mounted on heavy-duty wheels so that it may be displayed in various locations throughout the school and will be maintained as a lasting legacy for years to come.  

“The students are excited to forge their own personal style ring to add to our shop’s collection,” says Neil. 

As this grill is filled, another panel may be added. 

In addition to Mr. Mansfield, the welding program at AVRTHS is fortunate to have two teachers, Mr.  Mark Chludenski and Mr. George Aziz.  The three offer a combined sixty years of welding experience.

“Students are taught to become welders, fabricators, ironworkers, pipe welders, sheet metal workers, and, above all, honest, hard working citizens,” explains Neil.  “But it’s the creative side of welding – that blend of the artistic and the heavy industrial welding -- that keeps them interested in metal and motivates them to display their talents to showcase themselves to the world that they can make neat, interesting things out of metal.  I am a strong believer that creative metal work is a way to relax and combine welding and artistic skills together to produce interesting metal work.  In the end, both young and old metal workers love it!”

“Neil creatively comes up with projects to keep his students challenged and motivated.  He is a very special educator by any standard one might apply and is constantly striving to get his students the acknowledgement they justly deserve,” says Fred Mikkelsen, Editor of the New England Blacksmith Newsletter.  “I have always found it is the students first with him and it shows in their affection and respect for Neil and his co-instructors.”

Educational resources may be found at http://www.abana.org