Community Education welding class a popular choice

Sparks fly every Wednesday night at the Rogue Com­munity College welding lab on the Redwood Campus in Grants Pass, where instructor Dana Peterson makes sure welding arcs are pointed in the right direction.

Two years ago Peterson breathed new life in to a Community Education welding course. His class has become so popular that a second section was opened for welders who had completed the first course.

Peterson was introduced to welding in high school where he enrolled in as many welding classes as he could, including several college-level classes. Following early graduation from high school, Peterson enrolled in the RCC Industrial Welding Technology program.

While attending classes, he worked in steel shops gaining skills in self-guided fabrication and heavy iron work. After graduating, he continued working in the structural steel field while volunteering in RCC’s understaffed welding program. He eventually was hired to teach part time and soon after added the Community Education class to his resume.

Word of Peterson’s welding and teaching skills has spread. Students describe him as an excellent welder and a teacher who truly knows his material. Others simply say: “Dana is an awesome instructor!”

Tom Alexander is retired after 35 years working for the federal govern­ment. He’d always had welders working for him but never had the chance to learn. Now Alexander, who enjoys having the time to work on his own projects, is a student in Peterson’s second level class.

“I think Dana is one of the best instructors I’ve seen because he really cares about what the student is learning,” Alexander said.

Welding for the Novice Level I is offered at both the RCC Redwood Campus and Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC) in White City. The second-level class is offered only at the Red­wood Campus. More information is available by calling 541-956-7303 in Josephine County or 541-245-7617 in Jackson County, or visit www.roguecc.edu/Community Ed.

Student Tom Alexander (right) gets tips from Dana Peterson, who graduated from the RCC Industrial Welding Technology program and is now teaching RCC Community Education welding classes.