Lincoln Electric Accepts Student Interns to Support Local and Federal Jobs

While attending the signing event, the inaugural class of Lincoln Electric’s Job Corps interns had the opportunity to tour company facilities and interact with Mapes and other company associates.

Michael Gaylord saw the opportunity to visit Lincoln Electric and meet its chief executive officer as “a very humbling experience,” and said he can’t wait to learn and practice real-world job skills via experiences at Lincoln Electric and Job Corps.

“Lincoln Electric showed me that I can have a future,” Gaylord says. “Being at Job Corps has shown me that if I take the things that I am learning here in my academic and Facility Maintenance trade classes, the sky is the limit.”

From South Bronx, NY, and having previously attended various high schools without graduating, Gaylord says, “I never imagined I would have an opportunity such as this. I was very impressed with how Lincoln Electric employees carry themselves; they truly acted professionally as they spoke about their company history and success. Lincoln Electric gave me the hope and vision to continue on the path that I am on. I am now being able to begin to taste that success by finishing my GED. My goal is to work for a large organization such as Lincoln Electric.”

Having attended Central High School in Kalamazoo, MI, Austin Pratt concedes that back then he could not have imagined the chance to undertake such valuable skill-building experiences. “To walk through the entrance of Lincoln Electric with Mr. Serrato and my internship classmates made me feel like we were heading into a brand new world of opportunity,” he recalls.

“What I will remember from the visit with the leaders at Lincoln Electric is that I will use every opportunity to leave my mark on the earth. I want to represent myself in a way that those who remember me will be proud of me. This is something that will broaden my horizons and hopefully will carry me into my career in the military.”

Robert Chaney, born and raised on the east side of Cleveland, was not able to complete his goal of becoming a construction project manager or superintendent after attending Glenville High School. “A family member saw that I was struggling and pointed me in the right direction to get back on track with my goals at Cleveland Job Corps,” Chaney says.

At Job Corps, Chaney was introduced to welding by soldering plumbing pipes together during Facility Maintenance training. He looks forward to continuing his welding training via the internship and is excited to be part of the Lincoln Electric team.

“Visiting Lincoln Electric was very uplifting and has greatly expanded my horizons,” he explains. “It was a great pleasure and an inspiration to meet the chief executive officer of Lincoln Electric, and to be involved in a Cleveland institution that has been part of the community for over 100 years. I would like to take this chance to build a better future and better life for myself. By absorbing the values and knowledge of my Facility Maintenance trade at Job Corps and stacking that with the ideals and training I will take on in the welding courses at Lincoln Electric, I hope to make a brighter future for myself and my family.”

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