Major: Welding
Nicole Salmon was first interested in welding when she needed to make a few repairs to the frame of her 1975 Chevy Corvette.
“We bought a cheap Harbor Freight flux core welder and made the ugliest weld I had ever seen,” she said. “I knew this would not be the first time that I would need to weld if I were to continue restoring cars as a hobby, so I directed my efforts toward learning the trade. I ended up loving it and look forward to beginning my career in the field.”
The teachers are passionate about their jobs and they are an open resource. You are only inhibiting your success by not asking for help.
Nicole Salmon
Salmon turned to College of DuPage and its Welding program.
“COD has a plethora of resources and has always impressed me as an academic institution,” she said. “But I was blown away when I began discovering everything that the Technical Education Center had to offer. The teachers, labs, tools and technology have all been beneficial to my success.”
Having earned her Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technology, Salmon ultimately plans to run her own automotive fabrication shop. She is glad that she found the Welding program at COD and would advise other students to ask questions.
“The teachers are passionate about their jobs and they are an open resource. You are only inhibiting your success by not asking for help,” she said. “I want to give a huge shout-out to my teachers David Ellis and Roger Nelson. They have been a tremendous help to my success and their passion for welding and teaching shines bright!”