Oxford Woman Follows Brother Into VGCC’s Welding Program
Tracee Harris began taking welding at J.F. Webb High School “to prove a point to the boys that I could do it just as well as they could.”
The Oxford resident proved something to herself, too, and today is one of the top students in the welding curriculum’s day program at Vance-Granville Community College, according to program head/instructor Bill Jones.
Tracee is also carrying on a family tradition since her brother, Leroy Harris who lives in the Williamsboro community of Vance County, completed the welding program at VGCC in August 1996 and is currently employed as a welder at Newton Instruments in Creedmoor.
Tracee found from she really liked her welding classes at Webb High, and she discussed the field with her brother. “Leroy told me that Bill Jones is a good teacher and that if I wanted to weld, Vance-Granville is the place to come,” Tracee said. She said she hasn’t been disappointed and looks forward to finishing the one-year program in August at the end of the summer term.
Jones said Tracee Harris stands among the top two or three students in the current daytime class, and she should continue a VGCC tradition and pass the national welding certification exam in July. VGCC students have had a 100 percent passing rate almost every year since the program began at the school in 1972, including the eight graduates in 1998.
Like all siblings, the Harrises are competitive, and Tracee bet Leroy she would get higher grades in the class. Her current grade-point-average of 3.7 has her ahead of her brother, she said. On April 15, Tracee was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society of two-year colleges.
Tracee’s parents, Ralph and Susan Harris of Oxford, never said they thought welding wasn’t a proper career for a woman. “They have been right in there behind me and support what I want to do,” Tracee said.
Tracee worked part-time several months as a welder at Mayville Metals in Creedmoor. While her supervisors sometimes thought some of the items being welded were too large for the petite Harris to handle, she said, “I never found that to be a problem.”
After finishing the welding program, Tracee plans to return to VGCC this fall and study electrical/electronics technology as part of the college’s multi-skills program. She may even take industrial maintenance after that, she said, to enhance her value to potential employers.
A welding business with her brother in the future is a possibility, as well as joining up with Jennifer Jones of Oxford, a VGCC welding graduate in 1998 who is currently an electrical student at the college.
Tracee Harris also has artistic talents and thinks it is great she can use her welding skills with sculptures.
New fall semester welding classes will begin at Vance-Granville Community College on Aug. 23, and both day and evening classes will be offered. For more information, interested persons may contact Herbert Washington, vocational advisor, at 492-2061.
In the photo above right, Tracee Harris smoothes a practice bead during a class project. At left, Bill Jones, welding program head/instructor, checks a bead by Harris of Oxford.
