Welding a New Path

Shawn Babbitt first came to Blackhawk to complete his High School Equivalency Diploma. As he explained, “The entire time I’ve been a student at Blackhawk, I have been on parole for bad decisions I’ve made in the past and continue to strive away from that time in my life.”

After finishing his HSED, Shawn wanted to continue to a career path. Despite his great experience, he was nervous about moving into a college program. “I was skeptical. I made several stops to the school to look at programs without ever registering, and finally, my wife just said it was time to stop putting it off, and I finally registered for welding. It was the best decision I could have made.”

Choosing to join the welding program, he has found both a career path and a purpose. “It’s all been tough,” Shawn said about getting his life back on track and the loss of his father in early January. “Being able to get in the lab, under my helmet, and lost in my welds has been a big stress-reliever for me.”

Pictured: Shawn in the welding lab at BTC's Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.

A welder fabricates and joins metal parts through the use of equipment that creates intense heat. Welders must have the ability to study blueprints or project specifications and calculate the dimensions of the parts to be welded. Welders also inspect materials or structures that need welding, monitor the process of welding as a caution for overheating, and maintain welding machinery and equipment. Blackhawk provides skills in eight different types of welding within a new advanced manufacturing training facility that is the envy of other colleges in the region and state.

The hands-on aspect of welding was one of the things that drew Shawn to this program. The acceptance and guidance of his instructors has, in his own words, “given me self-discipline, time-management, and motivation in the lab and my personal life.”

“Shawn is an exemplary student who has overcome many obstacles in life and during his time in the Welding Program. Regardless of the adversities, Shawn remains positive and works hard to achieve his goals in the Welding Lab and in his personal life. We are all very proud of him,” said Welding Instructor Nick Mauer. 

Outside of school, Shawn enjoys trying new restaurants and cooking for his wife and three kids. “Grilled salmon with a fresh homemade salsa is my family’s new favorite.” When pandemic restrictions lift, he is eager to go out to eat again. He’s also excited to finally attend that Milwaukee Bucks game he had tickets to last March.