Kokomo Welder Earns $2,500 Trade School Scholarship
Lane Waddell, 18, was one of eight students chosen for Metal Supermarkets' fifth annual Trade School Scholarship program.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Scholarships
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Lane Waddell received a $2,500 Trade School Scholarship from Metal Supermarkets, one of eight awards totaling $20,000 this year. Waddell is set to begin the 40-week Pathways program at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy, Ohio, in September.
Why it matters
The scholarship helps offset training costs for students pursuing skilled trades, a pathway that depends on hands-on welding instruction. For Kokomo, it highlights how local career center programs can lead students into specialized training beyond high school.
The Trade School Scholarship is Metal Supermarkets' fifth annual program, awarding $20,000 across eight students this year. Waddell's $2,500 award is one of those eight, and the extraction does not detail the remaining recipients or total program costs beyond this figure.
The players
Lane Waddell
A recent Western High School graduate from Russiaville who trained in welding at the Kokomo Area Career Center and is now enrolling at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.
Metal Supermarkets
A metal supply company that runs the Trade School Scholarship program to support students pursuing skilled trades careers.
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
A welding training school in Troy, Ohio, known for its career-focused certification programs.
The details
Waddell cut materials, welded pieces, and presented work for evaluation during his junior year at the Kokomo Area Career Center, where he also earned his 3G vertical groove weld certification in his second year. He helped classmates build the America 250 Globe sculpture in downtown Kokomo using a plasma cutting table, and recently finished a month-long basic stick welding course at Hobart, passing his first practice bend test.
Timeline
Junior year: Waddell cut, welded, and presented work at the Kokomo Area Career Center.
Second year: Waddell earned his 3G vertical groove weld certification.
May 2026: Waddell graduated from Western High School.
September: Waddell begins Hobart's 40-week Pathways program in Troy, Ohio.
Lifestyle Context
Metal Supermarkets' fifth annual Trade School Scholarship continues a multi-year effort to fund students entering skilled trades. Waddell's award is one of eight in this year's round, which together total $20,000.
Students considering trade school can look into industry-sponsored scholarships like this one, which can offset tuition for specialized training programs. Applicants should note the program's annual cycle and plan for the cost of certification courses beyond the award amount.
The takeaway
Hands-on experience at a career center, combined with industry certifications like 3G vertical groove welding, can open a clear path into skilled trades training. Students weighing trade school should explore sponsored awards early in their junior and senior years.
What happens next
Waddell is scheduled to start the 40-week Pathways program at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in September.
Further reading
Explore more Scholarships options available to students pursuing skilled trades careers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kokomo Tribune.
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