Key Points

• School districts in the Salt Lake City area are responding to local needs for skilled trade professionals by strengthening their welding and other trade programs.
• Marathon Petroleum’s Salt Lake City refinery is helping two districts meet demand for welding classes by supplying additional scrap metal in coordination with a Marathon construction contractor.
• The refinery also supported a program that provided 10 scholarships to students to pursue further training in skilled trades after high school.

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School districts in the Salt Lake City area are working to enhance their career and technical education (CTE) programs after hearing from local employers about workforce gaps.

“Local industries like manufacturing, energy, aerospace and construction have communicated a growing need for skilled trade professionals,” said Karah Crosby, CTE Business Development Coordinator for the Davis Education Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising partner of the Davis School District. “Our programs, especially welding and other skilled trades, are seeing strong student interest and increasing enrollment.”

To help accommodate demand this school year, Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s (MPC) Salt Lake City refinery provided the Davis and Salt Lake City school districts with additional scrap metal for welding classes as well as scholarship program support. The metal was provided in coordination with Turner Industries, a construction firm that performs work for MPC.

“Because of the cost of metal and welding supplies, access to donated materials can make a significant financial difference for high school programs,” Crosby said. “No other business has been as supportive of our welding pathway as Marathon Petroleum.”

In the Davis School District, metal went to Clearfield High, which has more than 200 welding students. Highland High School in the Salt Lake City School District is using some of the metal it received to replace worn tabletops in 14 welding booths. The refinery also enabled 10 scholarships to be awarded across the two school districts to students who will pursue further training in skilled trades after high school.

“Our support represents a core part of our community investment,” MPC Senior Stakeholder Engagement Representative Dean Adam. “We look to invest in workforce initiatives that better prepare individuals for professional success by providing access to educational, training and career readiness opportunities.”

“When companies invest in local schools, students gain access to real-world learning experiences and clearer pathways to high-demand careers.”

Crosby described MPC’s assistance as reflecting the power of collaboration between education and industry.

“This kind of support allows schools to expand opportunities rather than simply maintain them,” said Crosby. “When companies invest in local schools, students gain access to real-world learning experiences and clearer pathways to high-demand careers.”