EPCC gets more than $273,000 from Marathon Petroleum for student welding program

EL PASO, Texas - On Thursday morning, the Marathon Petroleum Foundation announced its $273,838 donation to El Paso Community College to help train students to learn the trade of welding while in high school. Students work towards their college studies while obtaining their welding certification at EPCC.

"I think now people are understanding time is money and the sooner I can get out into the workforce I can get out into some side businesses and really expand my portfolio," said Luis Martinez who is the Environmental Safety Manager at the Marathon Petroleum Refinery.

The Ysleta Independent School District's welding program allows students to begin their welding training as teenagers at Riverside High School. This grant helps those students who want to begin their career as a welder by giving them the opportunity to get their tuition paid for by the grant.

It's not only males who are participating in this program- it's females too.

McKenzie Weber is in the 11th grade: "Growing up as a kid I saw my family, and just seeing the sparks and everything, and it's just really awesome. I wanna go further into this because not only do you make really good money it's also a great experience. You learn patience, and it's just awesome." 

Raechel Haynes is also participating in the program. She told ABC-7, "I think it's important for the younger generations to have the opportunities, and to know this is available for them. Because all they hear is 'go to college, go to college, go to college' but going into trades is just as secure if not more so."

The grant will help pay for Riverside HS students' welding equipment, and for their certification once they go to EPCC.