While most seniors are sitting at desks from 8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., you can find Kyan Bunker, sending sparks flying while welding. Bunker, a senior at Manitou Springs High School, takes part in the new Blended Learning Program at MSHS to give him the time he needs to begin his future career in welding.
Bunker likes that there are many jobs available for his career, and he can really go almost anywhere and have a job. “There’s a lot of opportunities. It’s not just focused in one area,” Bunker said.
Bunker grew up around people who went to trade schools or straight into the workforce. “I feel like, as long as you have motivation, you could really do anything,” Bunker said.
Although Bunker never planned to weld, he found his passion for welding through his job at Royal Welding. He knew he was going to go into trade school. “My boss really helped me get into welding,” Bunker said.
He has been around welding his entire life. “My cousins weld too. They’re on the pipeline out in Oregon,” Bunker said.
To help with his adjustment to working everyday at his job, Bunker is a part of the Blended Learning Program, a new program where students come to school for half the week until lunch and then go to do their jobs. “I go to work until 5:00, and on Thursday and Friday, I work from 7:30 to 5:00,” Bunker said.
Bunker primarily wants to stay in Colorado but has had other opportunities arise for when he graduates. “My boss talked about moving me out to Alaska after I graduate to a pipeline out there,” Bunker said.
Bunker has also learned about certain personal protection that is used, and why it’s important. “If you’re welding on galvanized, and you breathe that in, it’ll trick your brain into thinking it’s a flu, and it will kill you,” Bunker said. “That’s why you have to wear respirators.”
Many people have been thinking about how AI could potentially have an effect on their livelihood in the future. Fortunately for Bunker, he doesn’t find that AI could have a potential threat to his job, instead he actually believes it can help him. “AI can help with designing projects, but it can’t put it all together like a person could,” Bunker said.
Bunker not only wants to become a successful welder but also wants to someday start a family. His plan is to get out there and live. “Just go with the flow,” Bunker said.
Ben Gilliam, the Blended Learning Program advisor, thinks Bunker will continue to improve and work hard. “I’ve seen how motivated he is to finish high school, so that he can pursue his career as a welder,” Gilliam said.
While still being as supportive as possible, Gillam believes he is already so motivated to pursue welding that he doesn’t need a whole lot of help. “I see that my role is to help him make sure that he graduates from high school,” he said.
Gilliam likes the idea that the Blended Learning Program is independent, seeing as they are only on campus three mornings a week. “The rest of the time they’re out in the community, ideally working,” Gilliam said.
Gilliam has been seeing him mature and focus on graduating. “It’s been really cool just to see him grow up in that capacity,” Gilliam said. “I know he’s going to do great things.”
Kaden Bunker, Kyan Bunker’s little brother, believes that he is working hard for his future. “He has become mature and is working hard on his school work to become a good adult,” he said.
Kaden Bunker feels that one way he can support his brother right now is through encouragement. “He has a good work ethic, and he loves being a welder,” he said.
Kyan Bunker has also found creativity through welding, by making gifts for people in his life, such as his mom. “He made a flower out of flat washers and he is good at it,” Kaden Bunker said.
Kaden Bunker thinks that this is the right path for his brother and he’s going to make a career out of it. “I think it is great for him and I think he has a great future with it,” he said.
