Darren Wolfe of Eaton, Ohio, has been named recipient of the Howard B. Cary Scholarship awarded by the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.  Darren, a graduate of Eaton High School and the Miami Valley Career Technology Center, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Wolfe.

Darren is enrolled in the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program at the Hobart Institute.  His interest in welding was inspired by a demolition derby.  He owned his first demolition derby car at age 15 and soon realized that welding was a big part of the car maintenance. 

“Demolition derby has been something that I always wanted to do and I saw that you have to weld the seams on the cars if you want to do any good,” says Darren.  “I told myself that if I’m going to be building demolition derby cars for awhile, I need to learn how to do it.”

Darren’s first teacher was his dad.  Working first on a borrowed welder, Darren and Terry soon purchased a Hobart 175® MIG welder. 

“That summer, my dad kept teaching me more and more about welding and working with metal and I really enjoyed it,” Darren comments. 

As a sophomore, Darren had the opportunity to tour Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) and quickly set his sight on the welding technology program, discovering there is much more to welding than he ever imagined. 

“Darren has been an outstanding student in the welding program while attending the Miami Valley Career Technology Center,” says Larry Youngblood, Senior Welding Instructor at MVCTC.  “He has maintained excellent attendance and is at the top of his class in grade averages.  I have always been impressed with Darren’s good work ethics and his eagerness to learn.”

His high school training was a benefit at the derby as well.  “By my third year of derbying I could do a lot of the welding and metal fabrication myself.  I welded all summer on the car and placed 2^nd in the derby.  None of the welds were cracked or broken.”

As a supplement to his education, Darren seized the opportunity to co-op at the Henny Penny Corporation. 

“He is an outstanding worker and has made a positive impact within the area he is welding in,” says Allan Reynolds, Facilitator at Henny Penny Corporation.  “Darren is a very quality conscious person that puts a lot of pride in his welding.”

“The reason I chose welding as a lifetime career is because I like it and I see it as a great challenge for me to educate myself and learn all phases of welding,” Darren says.  “I know that when I wake up in the morning to go to a welding job, I will look forward to it because I love welding.”

“My goals in life are to attend the Hobart Institute and further my knowledge about the welding trade,” Darren continues.  “After that, I would like to work at a good welding shop and then find a business school to learn how to open and manage my own welding / auto service shop.  I would also like to obtain my vocational teaching degree sometime in the future and become a welding instructor, as I love teaching people how to welding and passing my knowledge on to others.”

“Darren has the study skills, time-management skills, and work ethic he needs to pursue this goal,” says Patrica Huehn, Department Chairperson at Eaton High School.  “He will join the workforce as a skilled, hardworking employee.”