SSC’s Jimena Becerra Finds Her Future in Welding
When Jimena Becerra walked into a South Sioux City High School introductory welding class her freshman year, she didn’t expect a life direction to arc into focus. Her brother—now a nuclear welder—and her boyfriend had already sparked her curiosity. But that day in the SSC welding lab, torch in hand and coached by family, she discovered something else: she was good at it.
“They showed me how to weld, and I got the hang of it quick. From there, I just liked it more and more,” Jimena said.
Though she has completed all of her high school credits, Jimena is still officially an SSC student—spending her senior year entirely at Northeast Community College through a partnership that gives advanced students in the district’s Manufacturing & Welding pathway the chance to take college-level courses. In May 2026, she will walk across two stages: one to receive her South Sioux City High School diploma, and another to earn her college welding credential from Northeast.
“It’s been a great opportunity,” Jimena said. “I get to focus on welding full-time, but I’m still part of South Sioux.”
Today, Becerra is enrolled full time in Northeast’s Welding Technology Program, spending mornings on coursework—blueprints, math, and safety fundamentals—and afternoons in the industrial lab translating those lessons into metal. Her weekly schedule runs 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with most Fridays free. Mornings emphasize lecture, tests, and blueprint reading; after lunch, it’s all hands-on fabrication.
“I like the hands-on part best,” she said. “It’s trial and error, but our instructor is always there to help us fix it and learn from it.”
Learning that mirrors industry
Instructor Chance Rohlk, a Northeast alumnus who welded across the country for a decade before returning to teach, designs assignments that mirror what students will encounter on the job.
“We draw a part on the board—students add all the weld symbols and measurements—then they go out and build to the print,” Rohlk said. “It’s good, practical repetition. Whether it’s GMAW/MIG, flux core, TIG, or stick, they’re building the foundation industry expects.”
Rohlk notes that the region offers a broad spectrum of welding work—from food and pharmaceutical applications to manufacturing and pipe trades. Each sector uses different processes, and every job begins with a weld test aligned to that employer’s code and specifications. “You continue learning on day one,” he added.
Becerra is intrigued by pipe welding—a specialty known for travel opportunities and strong pay—though she’ll reserve judgment until she reaches that unit next semester. For now, she’s adding breadth: machine setup, safe cutting, grinders and bandsaws, and plasma systems—always starting with read-learn-demo before students touch the tools.
Respect in a traditionally male field
One detail Jimena treats matter-of-factly is her gender.
“Most of the guys I’ve known since high school,” she said. “They treat me with respect.” Rohlk isn’t surprised.
“Out in the field and in the classroom, women in the trades bring exceptional attention to detail,” he said. “That focus is a real asset on intricate work and team jobs.”
A partnership that opens doors
Jimena’s opportunity at Northeast is one of the advanced extensions of SSC’s Manufacturing & Welding pathway, part of the district’s Construction & Engineering Academy. The program is operated by Northeast Community College but sustained through a strong, ongoing partnership with South Sioux City Community Schools—one that ensures a clear bridge from high school exploration to college-level technical training.
Academy Lead Matt Sheley has worked closely with Northeast instructor Chance Rohlk, inviting him into SSC classrooms over the past two years to meet students, align skills, and spark early interest.
“I wanted Chance to know our kids before we asked to send them,” Sheley said. “That familiarity helps us place the right students—and it helps students see themselves in the program.”
The results are visible in the lab: a majority of the students currently enrolled in Northeast’s Welding Technology Program are SSC Cardinals, including 13 seniors who made the jump last year. Sheley also highlights a standout alumnus, Eleazar, who leveraged competitions and donated practice pipe to master advanced techniques, earned scholarships, and then finished a nine-month program in seven months. He now welds on components that hold uranium for U.S. Navy nuclear submarines—proof, Sheley says, that SSC’s preparation aligns with industry standards.
“We’re updating curriculum based on what alumni are seeing, so students like Jimena are learning what they’ll need in their first years on the job,” Sheley said.
Another accelerant: tuition-free college coursework currently available to eligible high-school students, which Rohlk says has opened the door for SSC seniors to take the full welding sequence while living at home and building maturity for the next step.
Building real-world skills and community connections
Fabricio Hernandez, Principal of the Construction & Engineering Academy, says Jimena’s story captures exactly what the academy strives to do—blend hands-on learning with career and life skills that prepare students for success beyond high school.
“We promise to give every student the opportunity to grow important life and career skills, to work on real-world projects that make a difference, and to build strong connections with others in our community,” Hernandez said.
“Jimena’s work ethic, creativity, and confidence show what happens when those opportunities come to life. We are strong, passionate, and proud—and Jimena represents the very best of that spirit.”
Ready for what’s next
Becerra is candid that stepping into industry will bring nerves—any new workplace does—but she’s confident in the preparation she’s receiving.
“Every place is different,” she said. “But I feel like I’m getting a good sense of it here—how to read the print, set up, and make the welds that pass.”
For SSC, Jimena’s journey embodies the promise of career-connected learning: exploration in high school, advanced opportunity through partnership, and a clear runway to in-demand work. It’s also a story with ripple effects.
“Jimena is helping more than she knows,” Sheley said. “She’s a model student who will motivate other girls—and many more Cardinals—to see themselves in modern welding.”
Manufacturing & Welding (Construction & Engineering Academy)
The Manufacturing & Welding pathway is where students combine creativity and technical skill to transform raw materials into finished products. With training in fabrication, machining, and welding techniques, students gain precision and confidence using modern equipment. This pathway connects students directly to in-demand manufacturing and industrial careers.
