Ridgeland teen earns welding scholarship
A Ridgeland grad hopes a welding scholarship will be the start of a career he is excited about.
Devin Mitchell, 18, will start the welding program at Delta Technical College on Aug. 8.
He is the recent recipient of a full-ride scholarship to their welding program. He said the program will last about a year and will include eight certifications.
The 2024 Ridgeland High School grad said he got interested in welding during the quarantine. He was in eighth grade and said he would fill his time watching TikTok videos. Eventually welding videos came across his feed and sparked an interest.
Since then, he has been able to try his hand at multiple welding during demonstrations at DTC-sponsored career night events.
“After a few times, I found welding to be something that comes easily to me, and I enjoy doing it,” Mitchell said. “My mom and dad also think it is a good career for me.”
Mitchell said his plan is to get certified through his scholarship and then seek training in underwater welding, possibly in Seattle.
“I really like swimming, and I know I like welding,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell is the son of Stefon and Kathryn Mitchell.
When he is not studying welding or at work, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, his dogs, and going to the movies.
Delta Technical College issued over $400,000 in trade school scholarships awarded to 144 high school seniors across two campuses in Ridgeland and Horn Lake.
Ridgeland campus President Dr. Matthew Pummel said they announced the recipients in early June.
“We are honored to provide this opportunity year after year to deserving local high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in the skilled trades,” Pummel said. “We believe by learning a skilled trade, you can change your life. These students shared their stories and showed a commitment to pursuing their education, and we want to congratulate them on this accomplishment.”
The other recipients for the Ridgeland campus include Griffin Bonner and Marterio Miles. Bonner, a Florence High School grad, received $10,000 for the welding program and Miles, a Yazoo City High School grad, received a $10,000 scholarship for their professional truck driving program.
DTC’s High School Scholarship Program was created to provide an opportunity for local high school seniors to reduce the cost of their training in pursuit of a career in the skilled trades, Pummel said. Scholarship winners are selected through a multi-step application process that includes a video submission and interview with campus leadership.
According to DTC, 228 high school seniors will receive approximately $697,600 in MTI and DTC scholarship funds across DTC’s two Mississippi campuses and sister school, Midwest Technical Institute, four locations in Illinois and Missouri.
DTC is a trade school that provides hands-on training in mechanical trades, allied health, cosmetology and trucking, a DTC spokesman said.
“These are skilled trades industries that can offer opportunities for long-term career paths. DTC prides itself on changing the lives of students through hands-on workforce training,” Pummel said