A Spark Ignited: How Colten Moore's Curiosity Led to a Thriving Welding Career
While still in high school and considering his career options, Colten Moore of Greensburg wanted to learn more about welding after being a hands-on learner since he was a child.
He chose welding based on his curiosity and the enjoyment he gets from taking things apart and fixing them. He also realized early on that some applications required welding to repair certain items.
Moore knew he wanted to pursue a career in welding when he discovered the numerous fields where he could apply his skills.
“When I saw the variety of applications welding could be used for, from art design to structural, I realized that there are no limitations to welding,” he commented. “It opened a door for me to gain a new skill that I could use for the rest of my life.”
After doing some research and hearing good things about Westmoreland County Community College, he contacted the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) to sign up for classes and started while he was a senior at Hempfield Area Senior High School. He also cited the close proximity to home as a selling point.
“It was a challenge completing college courses while in high school during the 2021-2022 year but I was able to get my high school diploma then focus on college full-time,” he said.
Moore said that it was nice to start college classes while being a senior, which helped him get a head start on his career plans.
“After my high school graduation, I continued pushing hard in welding at Westmoreland and I was able to get certified in five different processes in welding on top of earning my associate degree,” he said. “I was able to get a job a week after I graduated in November 2023. I didn’t expect to get a job so soon but I was thankful it worked out.’
Moore comments that the ATC helped him to learn a variety of welding applications.
“I learned so much, I know how to TIG weld now which I had no clue before I started the program. Overall the program opened me to see how welding could benefit me and my future,” he commented.
Moore is currently a shop welder/mechanic for Gulisek Construction and has been on the job for about six months. He welds on a variety of projects ranging from buckets for excavators and custom roof racks for pickup trucks to repairs on broken equipment, custom boxes for trucks, and welding repairs on dump trucks.
Moore’s advice to potential students seeking a career in the trades or any other field is to look at Westmoreland’s ATC where they can get a foot in the door to learn something new or grow their understanding of a specific career.
“Keep pushing yourself and never give up if you do go into a trade. There are so many possibilities and Westmoreland goes above and beyond to provide students with support,” he explained.
“I am grateful to pick up the trade. I’m thankful knowing I will always have a job because welding will be around forever,” he concluded.