The first ever Tyler Joe Vincent Memorial Welding Scholarship recipient has been selected from the Northeast Tech Afton Campus. Noah Shelman, from Mount Ayr, Iowa, was recently awarded the $1,000 scholarship.
After graduating high school in 2019, Noah and his girlfriend Caitlyn came to Oklahoma to continue their education. Noah, who had worked at a big welding shop in Iowa his senior year of high school, had heard about a bunch of great welders over the years that came from a technical school in Afton, Oklahoma. Since Noah knew he wanted to make a living as a pipeline welder, he moved to Oklahoma and enrolled in the welding program at Northeast Tech’s Afton Campus. Caitlyn will graduate NEO A&M College in May with an Associate’s Degree in Medical Assisting.
According to his Welding instructor, Noah was chosen for the scholarship based on how his work ethic set him apart from the rest of the class.
“He always stayed busy, was willing to help others, and was constantly eager and ready to learn or try something harder,” said Welding Instructor Corey Winesburg. “Noah has great attendance and is always asking to stay longer to practice more. I have no doubt his hard work and talent, coupled with the help of this scholarship, will help him get one step closer to his goal.”
After he completes his training at Northeast Tech, Noah plans to pursue a career in pipeline welding. His long-term plan is to eventually save up enough money to buy a small farm closer to home so he can spend more time with his parents and two little brothers, as well as start his own family. This is a very similar goal to that of Tyler Joe Vincent, for whom the scholarship is named.
Tyler Joe Vincent, a long-time Fairland resident, graduated from Northeast Tech in 2008. He headed to Mexico, Missouri, to be a welder’s helper just four weeks later. Not long after that he broke out as a non-union welder, before finally joining the Pipeliners Local Union out of Tulsa, in 2017.
Tyler was very loved and respected for his work ethic, honesty, and his larger-than-life personality. He was always smiling and eager to help anyone in need. Tyler was raised to know he could achieve anything as long as he was willing to work for it. And while his possibilities were endless, Tyler’s heart was with his family. Just before his untimely death, he had purchased his dream farm and the cattle to graze it. Tyler was known to be at the company yard on Sundays (his day off) mentoring young apprentice welders so they could soon break out on their own. Through the Tyler Vincent Welders Scholarship Fund, Tyler continues to help future welders start their careers.
The Vincent family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to all who have donated to this scholarship fund.
“We know Tyler is smiling ear to ear over this,” said Kelly Vincent, Tyler’s mom. “We appreciate the donors who have supported this and we look forward to continuing to gift this in Tyler’s memory for many years to come!”
Photo caption: Northeast Tech welding student Noah Shelman was recently awarded the first-ever Tyler Joe Vincent Memorial Welding Scholarship. Pictured (left to right) in front of Tyler's welding truck, Joe Clapp, (Scholarship Chairman), Kelly Vincent (Tyler’s mother), Kelsey Vincent (Tyler’s sister), and Terry Vincent (Tyler’s father) presented the award to Noah Shelman. Northeast Tech Afton Campus Welding Instructor Corey Winesburg also attended the award presentation in support of Noah.
