From a hometown with a population less than 500 to a company with 13 locations in the U.S. and one in Canada, one 20-year-old welder is determined to do more than succeed financially; he wants to give something back.

Charley Silkwood, of Ripley, Okla., is just starting a high-paying career as a welder with Matrix Services. Matrix Services is a service contracting company based in Tulsa that provides services to refineries including industrial construction, repair and maintenance. Matrix Services’ core values are commitment to safety, integrity, positive relationships and delivering the best, according to the company’s Web site. As a tank welder for Matrix Services, Silkwood puts in about 60 hours each week and has  traveled to job sites across the country. Silkwood said through CareerTech he has gained a variety of skills beyond welding that helped him gain confidence, be successful and land this great welding job.

“Not only did I learn critical thinking on how to be productive and turn a product in an effective amount of time,” he said. “I also learned other professionally useful skills such as communication and leadership skills.”

That is why he is being recognized as a CareerTech champion, according to Phil Berkenbile, CareerTech state director. 

“CareerTech Champions are alumni of the system’s programs or student organizations who attribute much of success to their CareerTech experience,” Berkenbile said.

Silkwood decided to attend Central Technology Center because he wanted to learn something new - something besides the general education students get in high school. So, he enrolled in the welding program while he was in high school.

During his two-year program, Silkwood became a spokesperson and for Central Tech and a class leader serving as a student ambassador, a member of the Superintendent’s Honor Roll and a two-year member of the National Technical Honor Society.

 “Not only did I learn welding, but also I learned critical thinking on how to be productive and turn a product in an effective amount of time,” he said.

Silkwood said enrolling in a CareerTech program is a great way for students to experience different cultures and get to know different kinds of people.

“I would most definitely recommend other students get involved in a CareerTech program,” he said. “The student life at most tech centers is awesome because you meet and associate with people from many different schools, ways of life and backgrounds. There’s pretty much no limit to what you can learn depending on your interests.”

Silkwood said CareerTech greatly contributed to his success in the professional world.

“My definition of success would be accomplishing all your goals and doing what you always wanted to do,” he said.

“If you want to succeed, stay true to yourself and achieve everything you can. Be a real go-getter about it. If there’s an opportunity that comes up, take it.”

Information about CareerTech student organizations visit http://www.okcareertech.org/main/students.htm

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