Beginning Welding: Generations Southeast Launches Its First Welding Class

Published December 17, 2025

Over the summer, Generations Southeast located on Prince of Wales Island, has been buzzing with one success after another. Following the House Post unveiling in July, Generations Southeast held its very first Carpentry Fundamentals course where eight determined students spent two months under the guidance of skilled instructors gaining practical experience with carpentry, lumber grading, hazmat training, resume building and workplace success to prepare them for careers in the trades.

*Charles Edwardson (left), speaking at Generations Southeast carpentry graduation celebration.*

By the end of the course, every student had graduated from the program and secured employment in the construction industry through a cooperative agreement between Generations Southeast and McGraw Construction.

The carpentry course was offered in partnership with Sealaska at no cost to students, thanks to Alaska Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP) funding and Tlingit & Haida’s Employment & Training programs. Students traveling from outside of the Craig and Klawock area were also provided housing, removing barriers to participation.

“This is exactly the kind of success story we want to see,” said Charles Edwardson, Director of the Generations Southeast POW Campus.

*Josiah McCoy working on group welding project.*

Through the beginning of November, Generations Southeast held its first welding class taught by certified welder Kennedy Stumpf, who grew up on Prince of Wales Island.

Welding has been a part of her life since high school which led Kennedy to pursue a degree in welding at the Alaska Vocational Technical Education Center (AVTEC) and is now proudly teaching her expertise at Generations Southeast.

“This class meant to me an extra opportunity for college,” one student said. Another student, Josiah McCoy, is a recent graduate from Generations Southeast’s first carpentry class and is continuing to grow his skillset to further provide for his family. “It’s helped me learn a lot with starting to build a house.”

Generations Southeast will continue to host more welding classes, with the next class to take place in January of 2026. Visit Generations Southeast’s website to learn more or register for the class.