ANDREW PAULSEN

ESCANABA — Bay College has honored part-time welding instructor Andrew Paulsen with an Outstanding Educator Award.

To receive consideration for the award, faculty were nominated by a colleague, student or community member. The primary focus of this award is to acknowledge faculty’s commitment to education and excellence in service to others.

The award is sponsored by the Don Johnson Agency/MEEMIC Insurance in Escanaba.

Paulsen is a U.S. Army veteran who has been a welding instructor for the past 10 years at the Dickinson-Iron County Intermediate School District, and has worked at Bay College for the past nine years as a welding instructor at Bay College West in Iron Mountain.

Before joining Bay College in the fall semester of 2012, Paulsen worked for a diverse range of organizations, including Stewart & Stevenson as an offshore drill rig equipment welder/fabricator, Atlas Copco as a blast hole rig assembler/tester, Wabash National as a robot operator/welder, Western Extrusions as a weld shop supervisor/welder, Motor Controls Inc. as a robot operator/welder, for the U.S. government as contract welder, Loadmaster as a fabricator/welder and Boss Snowplow as a welder/robot operator.

Paulsen has a Michigan Occupational Competency Assessment Center certificate from Ferris State University, and is working toward earning his teaching degree.

Paulsen was recognized not only for his welding expertise but his ability to engage with students, teach them precision welding skills and to share his passion for this trade.

“Andrew’s commitment to the Bay College West campus welding program deserves to be recognized,” said Cindy Carter, dean of Business, Technology and Workforce Development. “He has been the face of welding at Bay College West for several years and has helped support industry by training graduates to fill needed positions.”

To watch a short video of Carter presenting the Outstanding Educator Award to Paulsen, along with his acceptance speech, go to www.baycollege.edu/awards.

Bay College offers career certificate programs, associate degrees, transfer options, job force training and opportunities through dual enrollment and early college programs. Classes are available at the Escanaba and Iron Mountain campuses and online. For more information, call 906-786-5802 or go to www.baycollege.edu.