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MANSFIELD – On Friday, February 10, North Penn Mansfield High School hosted Western Welding Academy as they visited Pennsylvania as part of their “Blue Collar Tour.”

The “Blue Collar Tour” sees the Academy traveling to 30 states this year, visiting one school in each state they visit. Along the way, they hold special events featuring demonstrations on welding and connect with students, hoping to inspire them to pursue the trades.

“America is in this pivotal moment where, if we can’t get enough young people to join the trades, the baby boomers are retiring. Who is going to replace them?” said Western Welding Academy Founder & CEO Tyler Sasse. “It’s really important we use the tools in our toolbox to go out and connect with these young people and inspire them to join the trades. People don’t realize that every manmade products comes through a manufacturing process. Who is gonna drive the trucks and keep the lights on and the sewers working? Those are all blue collar jobs.”

“It’s been an honor to have the Blue Collar Tour pick our school,” said industrial arts teacher at North Penn-Mansfield High School, Ryan Lightner. “They’re teaching the students how to weld. My students in particular are very excited about the welding and the welding careers.”