Welding program offers new chance at life

James Schram, left, and Casey Stewart plan to pursue a new direction in life after completing a welding program offered through the Work Ethic Camp and other partner agencies. (Lorri Sughroue/McCook Daily Gazette) [Click to enlarge]

By his own account, Casey Stewart of Fremont kind of drifted along in life. Getting a job was never a top priority, the 24-year old recently admitted.

"I worked at a telemarkerting company once," he said, "but I had no direction. Finding a job was hard."

One thing led to another and Stewart found himself, for the second time, sentenced to one of Nebraska's state correctional facilities.

But this time around, things are different and he's optimistic about the future. Originally sentenced to 16 months, Stewart was eligible to earn an earlier release by completing a six-month program at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook, an intense, no-frills, minimum security facility that stresses changing behavior and attitude with parenting and life skill classes, education and 10-hour days on work crews that provide community service.

Stewart took advantage of the welding class offered and recently graduated. Now, after his release Jan. 11, Stewart is committed to continuing his education at a community college for an associates degree in welding. He figures it's the best shot he's had in a long time.

"Finding a job is hard enough in this recession," he said. "And if you have a felony, it's pretty much impossible to find a good job."

The nine-week classes are the result of the collaboration of McCook Community College, McCook Public Schools, the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp; Valmont Industries Inc., Phoenix Transitional Services and Nebraska Workforce Development. At MCC's new Center for Applied Science and Technology -- "CAST" -- on B Street in McCook, the program is designed to provide high school and college students courses so that they can earn a certificate, diploma or associate of applied science degree in welding or machining, with classes to high school students in the morning.

Classes for WEC offenders or inmates are in the afternoon and those that graduate earn a certificate of completion.

The CAST program began in May and its fourth class graduated in December. Offenders or inmates must first take an aptitude test and pass other elgibility requirements before they are admitted to the small, eight student class, said Maria Bieker, WEC public relations officer.

The welding program reinforces the WEC concept about making the right choices, said Stacey Burkett, WEC program manager.

"I'm very excited about it," she said. "It opens the door for a career, gives them opportunities to pursue and helps against recidivism."

It also instills a sense of confidence, said another recent graduate, James Schram of Omaha.

The 29-year old was finishing up his six-year sentence with the Nebraska Department of Corrections when he, too, became eligible to complete the WEC program. He was accepted into and completed the welding program and after his release in January, Schram said, he will pursue welding at a technical school. Both he and Stewart's classes will be funded by by Vocational Rehab and Workforce Development.

"This what I want to do with my life," Schram said. "There are definitely jobs, and good paying jobs, out there for welders."

Besides learning a skill, one of the biggest impacts of the program for Schram was his on-the-job training at Valmont Irrigation. Schram said not only did it enable him see where his skill level stacked up, but also that others were willing to help.

"People like Dan Burns and Randy Chambers, who helped us ... it took a lot of patience for them and they went above and beyond what they had to do," Schram said. "They took the time to get us back on our feet, and we really appreciate it."

Time will tell how successful the welding program will be. Mike Harris of MCC, who teaches the classes, said he's has been contacted by a few who have since entered the welding industry full time.

"I wish more would contact us and let us know," he said. "It's an excellent program, but it's one of those things -- you don't know where to go with it until it proves itself. But so far, so good."

For those like Stewart and Schram, it may mean the difference between doing time and time well-spent.

If it wasn't for the welding class, "I'd probably be back here a third time," Stewart joked.