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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

Student welders at LeCroy Career Technical Center recently put what they have learned to work on a project for the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Students welded a metal bench frame and storage area to the inside of a special operations vehicle.

Welding instructor Daniel Gilliland said the project required students to create a supply list, take accurate measurements and fabricate the needed pieces for the project.

He said it also helped students develop communication skills as they talked to sheriff’s office personnel about what they needed.

Gilliland said it was a “great opportunity” for students to get experience doing what they would do on a job.

The project fits well with the programs simulated workforce setup.

Student Bryant Robinson said he enjoyed doing new types of welding because he had never worked with expanded metal before.

He also enjoyed the opportunity to work on an army truck.

There were several different angles that had to be measured and cut perfectly for everything to line up correctly. Robinson said another challenge was the “brackets were hollow so it was easy to burn through.”

Mason Penton also did a lot of work on the project.

Gilliland also appreciated that the department trusted the students with the project.

“Any time we can utilize then we try to let them utilize their skills,” Sheriff John Shearon said.

Welding students have completed other projects for the Sheriff’s Office in the past. Shearon said the students do a good job.

Gilliland said he appreciates everything the Sheriff’s Office and first responders do for the community.

Initially, this project had been planned for last school year, but the early closure of schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it.

Robinson said once the class was able to start on it the project took about two months to finish.