Teaching art through welding: All-female high school student cohort at Passport Academy takes welding classes

JADA MARTIN (PHOTOS BY DAYNA DELGADO) The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that an all-female cohort at Passport Academy Charter School worked with the Industrial Arts Workshop to create art through…welding. It has people like Passport Academy Principal/CEO Joe Oliphant beaming from ear to ear. Passport Academy is a charter school for high school students, located Downtown, comprised of about 140 students. Oliphant told the Courier that the students worked with members of the IAW during the fall semester 2023. “In addition to creating art through welding, the team at IAW has been inspirational in showing our students how to be creative through technical teamwork, collaboration, and character building,” Oliphant said. “This program has been a tremendous success as our students have learned to maneuver using a community partner such as IAW for career-readiness skill acquisition which will have an impact on their post-secondary pathways as they are nearing obtaining their high school diploma.” RA’NYA WATKINS Each member of the student cohort was presented with a certificate in December 2023 to serve as proof of the work they accomplished in the welding classes. Oliphant told the Courier the workshop sessions were held at the IAW in Hazelwood. Students went to...