James Hamilton had always liked working with his hands, so when he was looking for a lucrative career, Virginia Highlands’ Welding program seemed like a great fit for him. He knew that the nine month program was going to fast-track him to a great career, but he didn’t know how many valuable life skills he would gain in the process.
James quickly became a part of what is known at VHCC as the “Brotherhood of Welders.” He bonded quickly with the other students in his cohort class and with his professor, who taught the class about the importance of integrity, punctuation, and attention to detail.
By the end of the program, he not only had the knowledge and hands-on practice he needed to become a skilled welder, but he also had the soft skills needed to land a great job. “My education and training at Virginia Highlands was the critical door to a great technical job - and the opportunity for leadership and program management,” said James.
Today, James is working as a Fabricator for Global Technical Systems in Virginia Beach. He still stays in touch with his Welding professor and the other members of the Brotherhood.