On October 9 Georgia Department of Education, district, school, and community leaders gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Thomson High School metals lab. Several students provided a demonstration of the skills learned in the welding pathway, which launched in August. Pupils will compete in a welding contest in Augusta next month and are also preparing for the SkillsUSA competition later this year. At the conclusion of the pathway, graduates will be ready to meet the growing demand of the workforce for more welders.