TCCC welding student first woman to be certified by NCDOT

Nichole Sellers, a 16-year old welding student at Tri-County Community College was among nine students certified as a field pipe welder for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Sellers, a junior at Murphy High School, is the first woman to be certified in all positions by the NC Department of Transportation.

"I'm proud of all of our students," said Gary Westmoreland, welding instructor. "Nichole especially has worked very hard and this is a great accomplishment for her."

Gary A. Bristow, who administers the tests for the NC Department of Transportation, said that Sellers did an excellent job on her test.

"I'm showing her work to people out on the job and asking them why they can't do that kind of work," said Bristow.

"She has great attention to detail and she isn't even old enough to get a job. I wouldn¿t have been able to test her if it wasn't for the program at Tri-County."

Bristow has high praise for all of TCCC's welding students.

"These kids here are some of the best welders I see in North Carolina," he said. "They learn good habits. It's always a pleasure when I test students from Tri- County."

Fall classes at TCCC have already started but students can still register until Thursday, August 30. Call 828-837-6810 for more information.