WSU Hosts Welding Camp for Girls

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University’s College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology will host The Art & Science of Metalwork: Girls’ Welding Camp June 20-22 in the Engineering Technology Building Room 247.

The camp will connect young women with experts in the fields of metalwork and welding. Participants will learn about metal tolerances and design techniques to create beautiful and unique pieces of metalwork in a safe environment. WSU offered a similar camp five years ago.

“Most of the girls who attended did not have a background in hands-on engineering technology, so it is fun to see them trying things that broadened their outlook on the world of technology,” said Mark Baugh, manufacturing and engineering technology (MFET) professor and camp organizer. “The girls caught on quickly and were able to use their new skills to build a project they were proud of.”

The camp will include instruction from Baugh; Andrew Deceuster, MFET assistant professor; Jason Manley, visual arts assistant professor; and Rene Venegas, a 16th generation silversmith and owner of Galleon’s Gold Jewelry in Ogden.

A grant from the John Deere corporation helped provide funding. Miller Electric donated welding safety gear. Participants will receive three days of instruction and spend two nights in the WSU dorms. The girls will have the opportunity to explore different careers in STEM fields.

“I think that the thing that I want the girls to take away from the camp is that they can do it,” Baugh said. “A lot of time girls think they can't do the technical things they typically see boys doing. Hands-on technology often frightens many girls from trying. We want them to try, and most of them really enjoy it. The fields of engineering technology are always looking for more women. They are a great addition to our program and the companies they go to work for.”

For more information about the camp, visit weber.edu/summercamps/welding.

Visit www.weber.edu/summercamps for a list of summer camps and registration information.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

For a high-resolution photo, visit the following link:

photos.smugmug.com/Colleges-and-Departments/Applied-Science-and-Technology/Welding-lab-EAST/i-mFxRZKV/0/96294851/X2/weld%203%20HDR-X2.jpg

Contact:

Mark Baugh, manufacturing engineering technology professor
801-626-7540 • mbaugh@weber.edu

Author:

Charles Bowker, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • charlesbowker@weber.edu