Luna County, WNMU partnership opens welding class
DEMING – Not everyone is cut out for college. With that in mind, Luna County Economic Development and the Western New Mexico University branch in Deming is providing opportunities to learn a trade in an occupational field in high demand.
WNMU Department of Community and Workforce Development joined Luna County government officials, including Christi Ann Harvey, director of economic development for the county, and Luna County Manager Chris Brice to perform a ribbon cutting on the new welding class at WNMU-Deming. The ceremony took place on Friday at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center, 2300 E. Pine St.
Ribbon cutting
WNMU-Deming Director Manuel Rodriguez served as master of ceremonies and introduced WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard who gave a brief insight to the university’s active role in Luna County. The university has also cleared land and is planning to build a health care instructional facility for its nursing program. That construction will take place on West Florida St. close to Mimbres Memorial Hospital.
Also invited to the ribbon cutting were members of Prime Time CDL, a West Texas outfit that provides instruction and training for obtaining Commercial Driver’s License. They are interested in setting up shop at the MVLC.
“These types of jobs and careers are in high demand,” Shepard told the audience. “They make more than professors I know.”
Bringing change
Rodriguez began his new position as WNMU-Deming Director on July 1, 2021. He was director of the Language Institute, worked in the recruitment for education and as an adviser for the Small Business Development Center. He also taught ESL (English as a Second Language) evening classes at the branch.
“My duties here are to unite the community with what we are doing here at the learning center and at the university,” Rodriguez told the Headlight back in 2021. “We are trying to bring a change here to help the students and parents to bring back a series of mini courses to benefit the community.”
Rodriguez worked closely with Luna County Manager Chris Brice and the board of commissioners to bring the new welding shop into the light. Work began by converting the back of the learning center into a vocational trade workshop for welding.
Vocational trades
The welding program is providing students with international certification and the opportunity for high-paying jobs on a global scale. Rodriguez said this signals the start of a vocational trade program for WNMU-Deming.
The bay doors of what used to be the automotive center for Deming’s old Kmart building are now the welding shop. The county purchased the old Kmart building when it was converted into the MVLC. The infrastructure of the welding facility is currently being upgraded with additional electrical wiring and welding workstations. This will help us to add more high school participants and non-high-school participants, which is what the community has been asking for many years.
The building has been put to good use under the county’s economic development plan. It houses Deming’s Early College High School, WNMU-Deming and serves the community as the Mimbres Valley Special Events Center.
James Ortiz, Director of Applied Technologies at WNMU, introduced a prized student on Friday who recently earned his international welding certification. Carlos Marquez a student from Mimbres Valley High School, is the first student to complete the welding international certification awarded by the American Welding Society.
The welding program came in ahead of schedule. Future plans are to bring in auto mechanics and electricians into programs.
"These classes are not only offered to high school students but also to the community," Rodriguez told the Headlight. "The future path of the WNMU-Deming Learning Center is being led by President Dr. Joseph Shepard, who is continuing his agenda in Deming, Luna County, and the surroundings, recognizing the potential student base and the economic base of the area.
For the welding program students can contact Ms. Kathy Sorells at 575-538-6290Kathy.Sorells@wnmu.edu.
Health care learning center
Dr. Shepard continues to push for an ambitious agenda in Deming and Luna County, recognizing the potential student base and the economic base of the area.
Back in September of 2020, the WNMU Board of Regents unanimously approved the university’s annual endowment report and capital transmittal for phase one of the Deming Learning Center project.
At the beginning of 2020, WNMU purchased 40 acres on West Florida Avenue in Deming for the purpose of building a new learning center focused on health care and sustainability to provide Deming students of all age’s broader opportunities.
The campus is expected to set a new standard in the southwest for how sustainability and education can work together to create unique indoor and outdoor learning experiences for students, faculty, and the surrounding community.
For more information on programs offered at WNMU-Deming, contact Olivia Newell at 575-546-6556.
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-494-5059 or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.
This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Luna County, WNMU partnership opens welding class
