Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Welding student is making a name for himself throughout Georgia.  Ryan Degner was named the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) Winner for 2022 in April, and in March he earned a gold medal in the Welding Sculpture Competition at the State SkillsUSA competition.  “The entire Wiregrass community is so proud of Ryan and all of his accomplishments,” shared Wiregrass President DeAnnia Clements.  “He is such a humble leader and to hear his winning speech and to watch his eyes light up as he speaks of his passion for welding, motivates all who hear.” 

 

Degner moved to Valdosta in 2020 after retiring from the Army.  He served our country in different capacities- an engineer, recruiter, instructor, and drill sergeant.  In 2016, while deployed to Iraq, one of his soldiers was a welder and showed him how to use a spool gun to weld the hull of a boat.  “I will never forget when he handed me that tool and I struck my first arc, it was awesome,” shared Degner.  This spark became a new burning passion for him that when he retired four years later and relocated to South Georgia he began his search for a welding program.  “Wiregrass offered Welding and Joining technology and had one of the best Veteran’s Support Service Centers in the state,” added Degner. “I found they would ensure that I would receive all veteran benefits allotted, allowing me to complete my education at virtually no cost to me.” 

 

After enrolling in the Welding and Joining program at Wiregrass, Degner became proficient with oxy/acetylene brazing, welding, cutting, plasma cutting, stick welding, MIG welding, TIG welding, flux core welding, and he is currently working on blueprint reading.  One area of welding that he has grown to love is sculptural welding.  This allows him to combine his desire to create art with his welding skills.  He competed in the State SkillsUSA Welding Sculpture competition, where he placed first in the state with a gold medal, and will compete in the national competition in June.  Because of his passion for welding his Welding Instructor, Roy Bramley nominated Degner last fall for the GOAL program. “It only took one conversation with Ryan to learn of his military career and why he wanted to be a welder for me to know that he was going to be one of those special students that only comes along a few times in a teacher’s career,” shared Bramley. “When it came time to nominate a student for GOAL, Ryan was the first student that came to mind that deserved an opportunity to compete for this honor.”