CAMBRIDGE – Welding courses at the Dorchester Career and Technology Center have sparked students’ interest in the trade. That desire to master the craft is being supported by a local business, in recognition of the demands of the job market.

“Graduating from a welding program with knowledge in more than one process is essential for easy employment and versatility,” a statement from the school said. “The goal is to become a well rounded welder with knowledge of multiple processes such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick), Gas Metal Arc Welding (MiG) and Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIGW) as well as the theory in each process. This is the same for all types of thermal cutting.”

In their lessons, the novice welders use stainless steel donated to the program by local fabricating company C&K Lord.

The Dorchester Career and Technology Center is located in the educational park on the corner of Egypt Road and Cambridge Beltway, between Cambridge-South Dorchester High School and Maple Elementary School. The Career and Technology Center provides 17 programs of study within the 10 Maryland Career Clusters Framework.

These programs include business management, communications, construction, hospitality, agriculture, health, human resource services, information technology, manufacturing and transportation.

“The school’s enrollment is approximately 400 students,” the public schools’ website says. “Students from Cambridge-South Dorchester High School and North Dorchester High School attend Dorchester Career and Technology programs during the regular school day in addition to their regular home school program.”

At the center, the young craftsmen and women advance through increasingly challenging courses.

“Students have been working with Shielded Metal Arc and Gas Metal Arc since their entry into the program,” the statement said. “Now is the time certain students begin the much more technical and manual form of TIG welding.”

To learn more about courses at the center, visit dcpsk12.md.us. A statement on the website says, “Completing a Career and Technology Education program does not in any way prevent your student from attending college, and might very well make their career pursuit more valuable.”