DESHLER - This is what Zack Bohling enjoys: Placing two pieces of metal against each other and burning them together with a welding torch.

If you visit Deshler High School on any given weekday afternoon, you'll likely find the senior in the metal shop, surrounded by a shower of sparks.

"I like welding and shop work and that kind of stuff," he said. "I like everything about it."

He likes it so much he's considering becoming a professional welder after he graduates from high school.

"I'd like something ag or welding related," he said.

A welding program started last year at Deshler and starting this year at nearby Fillmore Central High School in Geneva is giving students like Bohling the chance to gain skills necessary to becoming professional welders.

The program allows students to gain certification from the American Welding Society while in high school so they can work as welders in industrial settings once they graduate.

At Deshler, 12 students have signed up for the class, which is being taught in two sections: an introductory class and an advanced class, said Jeff Kollath, industrial technology teacher at Deshler High School.

Reinke Manufacturing, which makes irrigation equipment in Deshler, is sponsoring the program, along with Omaha-based Miller Electric and Linweld manufacturing.

Reinke has done the legwork, connecting schools to equipment manufacturers and distributors willing to donate welding power sources and other equipment to the schools.

Those companies first sponsored the program at Republic County Junior-Senior High School in Belleville, Kan., about 30 miles south of Deshler.

Student interest in the program in Belleville has soared since it began in September 2007, said Doug Wilkinson, director of manufacturing at Reinke.

More than 40 students are enrolled in the Belleville program, and the school has hired two full-time welding teachers.

"Nobody thought this was going to be as successful as it has been," Wilkinson said.

He said it's the first program he knows of nationwide that gives high school students the chance to gain their D1.1 mild steel welding certificate.

As other schools and welding companies have heard about the program, the interest has grown, Wilkinson said.

The reason? The American Welding Society estimates the United States will be short of more than 200,000 welders by 2010.

Most companies he's approached are hopeful they can hire graduates of the program, he said.

"These jobs will be outsourced if we don't get programs like this launched," Wilkinson said.

He said he's spoken to state education leaders and has been asked to speak before Congress about the program. Now, Reinke has begun seeking funding and other support to start similar programs at schools across the country.

"We're going to show every school how to do this," Wilkinson said.

In Geneva, the welding program will start Oct. 1 at the high school.

At each school where it's sponsored the program, Reinke and its partners have also partnered with nearby community colleges to offer courses to adults as well.

In Belleville, the program's sponsors partnered with Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan. At Deshler and Geneva, they are partnering with Southeast Community College.

The adult education classes in Geneva, however, won't begin until January, Wilkinson said.

Kollath, industrial technology teacher in Deshler, said students have been very interested in the program and the $100,000 in donated equipment.

He said a lot of welding students come from farms. Some just enjoy working with their hands.

"With the introduction of this program, the interest level has taken another step up," he said.

Thomas Vonderfecht, a student in the Deshler welding program, said the new welding equipment is improved from what it was and includes more welding stations for students to use.

"You don't always have to wait for someone to get done welding before you can," he said. "You can just weld on your own all the time."

Kalab Reinke, whose grandfather founded Reinke Manufacturing, also complimented the new equipment.

He said he hasn't decided what he wants to do after high school, though he's considered coaching or welding.

"It's a great task to do in the future if there are jobs needed," he said.

Reach Kevin Abourezk at 473-7225 or kabourezk@journalstar.com.