Local students learn welding at Morgan Truck Body.
Five area high schools are now sending students to Morgan Truck Body in Morgantown to pursue a hands-on career in manufacturing – and get paid while doing it.
High school seniors who attend Morgan Truck Body’s hands-on, skilled welding training program earn $7.25 an hour while attending classes for two hours daily that count toward high school credit. With up to eight students per program session, students benefit from a small classroom experience during lab instruction, training on welding equipment, and access to a Virtual Reality Welding Simulator. Additional schools are invited to participate in the paid training program, which is currently offered at Governor Mifflin High School, Wyomissing Area School District, Coatesville Area School District, Wilson School District and Twin Valley High School.
“Of the 36 students who have graduated from the program so far, 28 have been hired by Morgan Truck Body straight out of high school at highly competitive, family-sustaining wages,” said Richard Dixon, who manages the Morgan Truck Body high school training program. “We’d really like to expand the number of high schools that participate, so as many local students can benefit as possible.”
Morgan Truck Body is the largest manufacturer of medium-duty dry freight and refrigerated van and truck bodies in North America with 2700 employees. Multiple generations of skilled workers have built their careers at Morgan since its founding as a small welding shop in 1952, but as more Baby Boomers retire from the trades, the manufacturing industry is facing a shortage of workers.
“There’s a pressing need for more high school students to be aware of rewarding jobs in manufacturing that deliver an impressive salary without the burden of paying off college debt,” said Julie Ubele, Talent Acquisition Manager at Morgan. “We want to be partners with our local schools when it comes to educating students about these opportunities, while becoming an employer of choice.”
Seniors in high school who are at least 17 years old can attend Morgan Truck Body’s paid welding training program in either the fall or spring session. Provided they are at least 18 years old, those who are offered employment at the end of the fall session can work part-time at $23 per hour until graduation. Students who are offered employment after the spring session can begin full-time work upon graduation at $23 per hour with 80 percent college tuition reimbursement with no cap after working full-time for six months. All new hires must pass a physical and written test, which can be retaken at a later time if necessary, as the employee works as a production associate at $19 per hour. Full-time benefits include health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability plans, 401(k), paid time off, tuition reimbursement and more in a culture of career development, diversity and respect.
Interested schools can contact Julie Ubele at Morgan Truck Body at Julie.Ubele@morgancorp.com or call 610-286-2314.
