Logan Courtright, a Level 3 Welding student at Berks Career & Technology Center and a Brandywine Heights senior, is putting his skills to the test through a co-op experience at AES LLC in Kutztown. Growing up on his family's 150-acre farm with 180 dairy cows, Logan has always been drawn to the repair and maintenance side of farming. "There are three aspects of farming—crops, animals, and the repair and maintenance of everything. I fit best in the repair and maintenance of the farm, and welding is part of it," he shared.
Logan first learned the basics of welding from his father, but his time at BCTC greatly expanded his skills and career possibilities. At AES, he is working on cryogenic tank welding projects, fabricating large stainless-steel tanks designed to store liquefied gases at extremely low temperatures. These specialized tanks must withstand high pressure to maintain the gases in liquid form, and the construction process can take up to six months to complete.
Logan had to work his way up at AES before being trusted with critical welding tasks. "There was a lot of cleaning when I first started co-op," he explained. "Once they saw what I could do, they let me work on a couple of small jobs where the welds failed. I ground out the welds and rewelded the area, and the welds didn’t have an issue—they passed the testing to hold the liquefied gases."
"BCTC's instructors prepared me for the work environment, but there was still a learning curve on what the specific welds look like on the cryogenic tanks," Logan added. "The welder's cleanliness is very important when constructing the big tanks. There is a lot more that goes into prepping the metal. You have to be very careful with your hands and gloves."
Logan currently earns $20 an hour on his co-op and was recently offered a full-time position at AES after graduation, nearly doubling his hourly rate and including benefits. Despite this exciting career opportunity, he still plans to help on his family’s farm. He also looks forward to expanding his welding knowledge and earning additional certifications to further advance his skills and career in the industry.
"I would recommend high school students to give career and technical education a try," Logan said. "BCTC and co-op have been a great opportunity for me."