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Name: Dylan Schlosser
High School: Lincolnview High School/Vantage Career Center
Immediate Next Step: Locate the highest-paying weld job
Dylan's Story
There wasn’t much wavering in Dylan Schlosser’s decision to be a welder. His grandfather did it. His father did it. Two uncles do it. The biggest difference with Dylan’s career path was that he accumulated multiple certifications – eight total, including the highest and most difficult one in pipe welding and all before he walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma.
“It’s very rare for a high school student to attain this high level of certification,” said Cindy Weihl, public relations manager, American Welding Society (AWS), about the AWS pipe welding certification that came to Dylan at the end of his senior year. “This is not an easy weld. It’s one that requires preciseness.”
The way Dylan sees it, certifications not only make him a more valuable employee with knowledge about all types of welding but also verify to the public that he has a skill that could, for example, keep a dangerous fuel or gas leak from happening. “If you’re running a gas line with 100 pounds of pressure, you can’t risk any infractions,” he said.
Dylan, an employee at Lee Kinstle (automotive) Accessory Avenue, Van Wert, for the past two years is looking forward to lifelong work and continued learning in the welding industry.
Dylan's Future, Appreciation and Advice
Q. Where do you see yourself in five years?
A. I want to be working in the high-end level of welding, which I am prepared to do. Most of those jobs are in Texas and with a starting pay of $45 an hour, so I likely will be working out there.
Q. What’s the best part of your Ohio education experience so far, including one person (teacher, parent or other), who contributed to that?
A. When you have a teacher who has been in your shoes and in the industry, it makes all the difference. Mr. Brent Wright was a student here (1996 Vantage graduate), he has worked in the industry and he knows that learning sticks better when you do it on your own. That’s how our class was – hard work and understanding of how what we know when we leave will keep putting food on the table and more.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you would give to a current high school freshman?
A. Plan ahead. Have goals. Think hard about what you want to do after high school because it comes up fast.
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More information about this story can be obtained from Pat Huston at pat.huston@ode.state.oh.us.
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