BC welding instructor honored by American Welding Society

Brazosport College welding instructor Jay Barr, left, works with a student during a high school certification event at Brazosport College. Barr was recently recognized as the American Welding Society (AWS) Howard E. Adkins Memorial Instructor of the Year for the Houston chapter of District 18.

Brazosport College welding instructor Jay Barr was recently named a recipient of the American Welding Society (AWS) Howard E. Adkins Memorial Instructor of the Year for the Houston chapter of District 18.

The accolade is voted on by industry peers and past winners. The Houston AWS chapter is the largest in the United States, stretching north to Huntsville, east to Lake Charles, La., west to Wharton and south to Freeport and Galveston.

The annual Adkins award recognizes an instructor for outstanding teaching accomplishments at the high school, trade school, technical institute or community college levels. Barr has made a name for himself in the welding community by adapting his program to industry needs.

“This award is quite an honor,” Barr said. “To be recognized by your peers in education and industry is humbling.”

Barr earned his Associate of Applied Technology from Brazosport College and has more than 20 years of experience in the welding industry.

Since joining the faculty at Brazosport College, Barr has made a huge impact on the College’s welding program. He’s organized numerous events and activities, and partners with local school districts for the advancement of welding opportunities for his students.

He has been instrumental in organizing an annual AWS certification event for high school students. The event, held annually in late spring on the BC campus, has helped hundreds of students earn welding certifications.

Brazosport College has greatly expanded its welding program in recent years with the building of the BCPC Welding Technologies Lab in 2016. The stand-alone lab, which is the newest building on campus, allows the College to train 50 to 60 welders at a time.

The mission of the American Welding Society is to advance to science, technology and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide. Headquartered in Miami, Fl., and led by a volunteer organization of officers and directors, the American Welding Society serves more than 70,000 members worldwide and is composed of 22 districts with 250 sections and student chapters.