PADEN PITTS
Roland High School
Whenever he’s on the baseball diamond, Paden Pitts strives to not only stay in the moment but also be equipped for what happens on the next pitch or next inning. As a student enrolled in the welding program at Indian Capital Technology Center, Pitts thrives on the challenge to be always being at his best.
“Welding requires you to always be aware of your surroundings and stay focused if something goes wrong and be ready to fix it,” explained Pitts, a 2024 senior who plays second and third base for the Roland Rangers. “I think it’s my competitive spirit that keeps me at my best in order to do the same thing when I’m on the baseball diamond by thinking three or four steps ahead.”
The two-year welding curriculum provides a day-to-day challenge for the students at ICTC. Students in the welding program learn how to design, engineer and build unique products to solve manufacturing challenges as well as how to interpret blueprints and specifications by using math and critical thinking skills.
“Everyday, we focus on safety first in our program as the students learn different types of welding from flat to horizontal to uphill to overhead in flat plate, T-joint then on into pipe in one of four welding processes: MIG, Stick, Flux-core and TIG,” explained Daniel Bost, himself a 30-year veteran of the industry now in his 11th year as the program instructor on the Sallisaw campus. “There’s a lot to learn and master but that’s where the motivated and driven students, like Paden, really excel and get the biggest reward resulting from how hard they work.”
Bost appreciates the extra efforts Pitts and his eagerness to get his hands dirty without hesitation.
“Paden is already welding at a level of a second year student. His self-motivation and hard work ethic is why he’s ahead of the curve for a student who is just finishing his first year in the program.”
For Paden Pitts, the attraction to mastering the art of welding is the result from a childhood experience and from the initial excitement of passing the bend test on his first try, the desire to unlock the doors to a successful future has been never ending similar to the thrill of a walk-off game winning hit in baseball
“My uncle was a welder when I was growing up and I’ve always found it fascinating, said Pitts, who has aspirations to starting his own welding business after graduation. “I have the opportunity to use what I’ve learned by doing at ICTC and convert it into a high paying job right out of high school.”
