Airgas expanded its High School Welding Education Initiative to 76 schools across 26 states in 2026. This year’s program includes 25 new programs and 51 renewals. Since launching in 2018, the initiative has reached more than 16,000 students, equipped 817 instructors with modern equipment and helped launch more than 3,100 careers. “The 2026 expansion reinforces our commitment to supporting educators and students as they work to bridge the critical skills gap in our workforce,” said Monica De La Garza, executive vice president of operations,
Airgas. “Equipping these 76 programs with professional-grade tools used in the industry today will empower the next generation to fill their potential.”