DREW DORRANCE EARNS DUNLAVY SCHOLARSHIP

The Hobart Institute’s Raymond C. Dunlavy Scholarship has been awarded to Drew W. Dorrance of Salinas, California.  The son of Steve and Leslie Dorrance, Drew has been around welding for many years, initially working on simple projects in his dad’s shop.  The smoke and sparks created from the process fascinated him in those early years. 

“When I was young, this interest was somewhat limited due to my inability to use complex tools.  As I got older and somewhat wiser, I began to use bigger and more efficient tools and also began to acquire skills in the use of these tools.  When I began high school,” explains Drew, “I added an Ag Welding class.  This is when I started to take an interest in careers that involved welding.”

After graduating from high school in June 2002, Drew pursued welding at Mission Trails Regional Occupational Center (ROP). 

“After working with the extremely talented instructor (Mr. Mark Neal) and picking up quite a bit of knowledge, I decided that not only did I want to become a welder, I wanted to be the best that I possibly could be,” Drew says.

Mr. John Felice, Assistant Director of Mission Trails ROP offers this description, “Drew’s strengths include initiative, organizational skills and exceptional interpersonal skills.  He has outstanding leadership abilities and knows when he needs to take a lead role in a group and when he needs to be a team member.”

“Drew works hard,” says Welding Instructor Mark Neal.  “He has that rare-to-find knowledge these days of a good work ethic.  Drew is an exceptional young man.”

Ranching has been a big part of Drew’s life, a fact that has obviously instilled that work ethic.  He has worked on the family ranch along with being involved as a member of  4-H, FFA, and as an Explorer with the Salinas Rural Fire Dept.  He has excelled in steer-raising projects. 

“Drew is goal oriented,” says Mr. Felice.  “He knows how to set short term as well as long term goals and establish the objectives necessary to be successful in his goals.”

His current plans involve completion of the nine-month Combination Pipe and Structural Welding Program at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.

“After that, I plan to enroll in Santa Barbara Community College’s Commercial Diving course,” continues Drew.  “After graduating from this course, I plan to find a job with a respectable commercial diving company doing strictly underwater welding.  I have made my plan and am going to do what it takes to achieve my goals.  What a simple dream and basic desires started, self-motivation and a will to succeed are achieving.”