CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Matthew DeSchamp Jr., a senior at GMG High School who is dual enrolled at Marshalltown Community College, earned first place in the Beginner Welding Competition recently held in Des Moines at the 2023 Skilled Trades Convention, hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa. DeSchamp Jr. participates in the Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAG) program at GMG High School.

GARWIN — As the son of MD Construction owner Matt DeSchamp, Matthew DeSchamp Jr. has grown up knowing the importance of the trades and having a chance to learn some of the skills associated with them. Recently, the GMG senior, who is dual-enrolled at Marshalltown Community College, was recognized with a first place award in beginning welding competition at the 2023 Skilled Trades Convention, hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa in Des Moines.

DeSchamp Jr. recalled that when he was around 12 years old, he saw his dad welding and took an interest in it, calling it “something fun to do.” After easing into it for a while, he was approached during his junior year about taking a welding class at MCC. He’s been doing that every morning and credited instructor John Sly with guiding Matthew and his friends on the right path to help them improve their craft.

The recent convention offered DeSchamp Jr. and his friends a chance to find out how they stack up against others around the state, and he participated in the beginner competition, which required him to weld a five or six inch square tubing pipe on flat steel in a 2F position.

“It’s the basic weld that’s right in front of you, and then you’ve gotta wrap the corners. You’ve got 20 minutes to weld it,” he said. “It was our first time doing it, so it was kind of experimental. I think the school will be going to this type of stuff more often for sure. It was a fun experience.”

Although he admitted it was a bit nerve racking to complete a weld with so many people watching his every move, DeSchamp Jr., along with his friends who competed in the advanced division, enjoyed the experience. When they announced winners, he said he’d be happy with any place, but his friends told him he had won.

“In the moment, I was kind of sporadic. I didn’t know how to feel,” he said.

A recent report from the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) gave GMG a rare perfect score for its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and the district’s iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) facilitator Brittany Raymond is always excited about opportunities like these to showcase the hard work they’ve been doing.

“Watching each student grow and find their strengths is the most exciting part of my job. All of my students continue their education after graduation. That might be college, maybe an internship or apprenticeship, or it could look like training on the job,” Raymond said. “Whatever it is, my hope is they leave iJAG ready for the career world and be able to financially support themselves as an adult. Welding is one of many great trades students are exploring. There are so many opportunities in the trades. It’s so advantageous to have these hands-on skills in the real world. I am proud that our kids are brave enough to explore careers that fit them.”

Once he completes his certificate and training, DeSchamp Jr. plans to work in the welding field and is open to any great opportunity that comes his way. And he hopes other students who come to GMG after him will consider following a similar path.

“I think kids should really be taking advantage of the trades right now. It’s booming. You can find jobs anywhere,” he said. “The way I think about it, it’s just like riding a bike. You step off a bike for two or three months. Yeah, you get back on it and ride it. It might be a little rough, but welding is the same way. If you don’t wanna do it right out of high school, you can take a little time off or get a different degree then come back to welding if that’s something you’re interested in… You jump right in, you’ll figure it out.”