The impact that an educational facility has on its students does not show on paper or in headlines, it is displayed daily in the lives of its students. Hayden Baker is a student at the Fairview campus of Northwest Technology Center and he says that he would definitely encourage others to attend there as well.

“If I were to talk to someone interested in attending tech I would tell them to do it,” he stated. “Tech shows a few good examples of what real world jobs would be like. I personally think it is better to attend tech and see what it is about rather than attending college and paying lots of money just to not like the career you chose.”

Hayden is in the welding program at Northwest Tech, and he has known for a while that he would be interested in being in that program.

“I first heard about VoTech when I was in elementary school and I was talking to a junior and he told me all about the programs and opportunities,” he said. “I became very interested when I heard they had major opportunities for welding as well as welding competitions. I toured the welding program during my sophomore year and I felt like it would be a great fit for my interests.”

As a senior at Ringwood High School, Baker is already getting prepared for life after graduation and he says that he has Northwest Tech to thank for a lot of that.

“My plans after graduation is to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University and graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Ag-Business and keep welding as a side profession. I think tech has prepared me beyond belief. I have actually purchased a Lincoln SA 200 and started working. I currently have a 3G welding certification and I am pursuing my 6G welding certification.”

As a student at Ringwood, Hayden is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Farmers of America, SkillsUSA, the National Honor Society, and Beta.