Kawerak welding course wraps up in Nome with July 25 skills check-off

Adult Students Complete Three-Week Welding Course in Nome

Eight adult students from around the Bering Strait Region finished a three-week Shielded Metal Arc Welding certification course on Saturday, July 25, at the Nome-Beltz High School welding lab, closing with a final skills check-off. The students worked toward SMAW certification without leaving the region, though they gave up time at home during a busy subsistence season to do it.

Kawerak, Inc., the regional tribal consortium, sponsored the class, which ran through most of July while the high school was out of session. Bering Straits Native Corporation and Norton Sound Health Corporation supported it with transportation to and from class and with meal tickets; Kawerak's Workforce Development team met with students on several evenings to work on job hunting, resumes, and interview practice.

Welding instructor Brian Walsh said demand for skilled workers is high and expected to stay strong, especially in the Bering Strait Region, with the port, the Department of Transportation, and other employers increasing regional activity. He said the class offers more than technical skills. "These students are building confidence and building employability, no matter what their field of choice is once class is complete," he said.

Training Comes Ahead of Planned Port Work

The training arrives as port and infrastructure work is planned. The US Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, awarded Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. a $399.4 million contract for Phase 1A of the Port of Nome Modification Project, which extends the port 1,200 feet, with completion projected for 2029. Phase 2 dredging is anticipated to bid in 2026, with work starting in 2027.

Darryl Takak, a student from Golovin, said the certification changes what he can apply for. "Once I have this certification, I'll be able to apply for a welding job locally. I'm already meeting with Kawerak to talk about working on my resume," Takak said. It was not his first welding class; he attended an aluminum welding course in Anchorage this spring, sponsored by the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Aluminum welding applies to the maritime industry, while SMAW is used in maintenance, repair, and construction.

Training Held Close to Home

For Danielle Silook, originally from Gambell, the course built on an interest she first discovered while attending high school in Nome. She said the jobs tend to pay well and she likes the work. "I enjoy being in the shop. Welding is something really fun to do, and it gets easier over time," she said.

Silook said she was glad the training was based in the region. "It was something I've been looking for. Instead of having to travel out of Nome to get the training, I'm glad they held it here, so I don't have to leave," she said.