I am an AWS-CWE (American Welding Society Certified Welding Educator) at Optron III, an alternative school in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.  I have a secondary education degree.  Both my higher education degree and welding experience help me teach you men with limited educational skills to weld.  More than half of the students in the school are in the welding program.  We also have them working on their GED’s. 

The shortage of welders in South Louisiana is very high.  To give these young people the skills to weld and have a chance to succeed in life is very rewarding.  The reward is to see the faces of these young men at graduation when we present them with their AWS certified welding papers in SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW. 

I appreciate Hobart Institute of Welding Technology,’s “The World of Welding.”  The articles are great and I enjoy reading them very much.          

~ Zeke Cocran, Holden, LA