Approximately 500 people celebrated a historic milestone in skilled trades education
at the grand opening of the Welding Technology Center on the Southeast Community College
Lincoln Campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 21. This transformational
facility will change the landscape of SCC’s Welding Technology program as it addresses
a critical workforce need in Nebraska and across the nation.
“This journey began four years ago when we sat down with our industry partners to
understand exactly what they needed from SCC,” said Dr. Paul Illich, SCC president.
“Those conversations weren’t just informative, they were transformative. They led
us to reimagine not just our curriculum, but how to better equip the workforce through
high-impact, hands-on, technical training. Today, we’re celebrating the culmination
of that vision with this nearly 100,000 square-foot facility which is one of the most
significant accomplishments in our College’s history.”
The new facility will more than double the enrollment capacity of one of the longest
running programs at the College while also establishing SCC as the premier destination
for welding education in the U.S. In the Welding Technology program’s previous space
on the Lincoln campus, 84 individual welding booths allowed for instruction. This
new facility provides 196 booths, the most found in single building on any college
campus in the nation. The Welding Technology Center also includes bays designed for
semi-trucks to pull in and unload material as well as an overhead bridge crane which
provides safe operations for unloading material to be used at press brakes and metal
forms.
“This day represents not only the opening of a new facility, but also the beginning
of new opportunities for students, for local industry and for the future of Nebraska’s
workforce,” said Michael Krupnicki, past president of the American Welding Society.
“You haven’t just built a welding facility, you have made a statement to the country
that Nebraska is serious about producing a welding workforce for today and tomorrow.
Nebraska has recognized this great need and responded with strong leadership. This
innovative facility breaks the mold of the traditional welding school.”
Welding represents a high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career. The Welding Technology
Center also addresses the needs of local industry to upskill their current workforce
in a separate space devoted to local industry partners for customized training. In
addition, international welding equipment manufacturers have donated state-of-the-art,
brand-new equipment, that allows SCC students to train and learn on the latest equipment
used in the field, including new equipment from Fronius that will be introduced at
SCC before being released at FABTECH 2025 in Chicago, Sept. 8-11.
“At City Hall, we recognize the incredible value SCC provides,” said Lincoln Mayor
Leirion Gaylor Baird. “This new center is going to supply our businesses with the
talent they need to grow. It’s equally exciting that students and companies from around
the country will have opportunities because of this center. As future workforce talent
comes here to strengthen their outlook and opportunities, they’re also strengthening
ours. They’re enhancing Lincoln’s status as a place of innovation and opportunity.”
The Welding Technology Center, designed by Davis Design and Olsson, is a $33 million,
nearly 100,000 square-foot facility featuring 196 individual booths, an 11,000 square-foot
fabrication lab and 4,500 square feet dedicated to specialized industry training needs.
Developed with input from local businesses, educators and schools, the center ensures
the best methods for teaching, training and recruiting students and employees. Its
state-of-the-art equipment, collaboration areas and gathering spaces foster hands-on
learning and industry partnerships, giving students valuable exposure to business
leaders while providing companies with opportunities for staff training and certification.
Built with the future in mind, the design also allows for expansion as the program
and enrollment grow.
“This is a big day for the State of Nebraska,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “This is
an extraordinary investment in our kids’ future. This investment helps our young people
know that they have unlimited, extreme opportunities for careers.”
In addition to the new facility, SCC offers welding training at The Career Academy
on the Lincoln campus, through dual credit courses at multiple high schools in southeast
Nebraska, and on the Milford and Beatrice campuses. In total, the college has more
than 260 individual welding booths, more than any community college or training facility
in the nation.
“I want to congratulate your leadership. Thank you Dr. Illich for everything you have
done to take SCC into the next generation of workforce development,” said Rep. Mike
Flood. “This is what the Board of Governors saw when they were presented with the
challenges their constituents talked about. We spend a lot of time in America talking
about our problems. Today we are celebrating a solution.”
Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
Southeast Community College
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu
2025-08-23 05:12:00