RUSSELL – Members of the business community came together to ask the school district to launch a welding program to address the need in the community for professional welders. In its first year, the new program offered at Russell High School attracted 24 students.

Students will graduate with a welding certificate and can go straight into the workforce in a high demand career.

Grant funds from the Schmidt Foundation, John O. Farmer Inc., the Patterson Family Foundation and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation helped cover the costs of establishing the welding program and acquiring needed equipment.