Forging a Future: How two students rewrote what’s possible in welding

When Zachary Day first stepped onto the Central Lakes College campus, he wasn’t sure whether the Welding Program was even an option for him. After an accident left his left arm without mobility, he questioned if welding — a skill that typically requires two hands — was something he could realistically pursue. 

CLC Welding Instructor Dave Otto didn’t hesitate. 

“I said to him, ‘I don’t know how you’re going to do this, but we can figure it out together… we will do everything we can to figure it out,’” Dave recalled. 

Welding students must learn three primary welding processes. Two of them—MIG and stick welding—can be done with just one hand. But TIG welding requires both hands: one to feed wire and the other to perform the weld. Determined to make the program accessible, Dave dove into researching adaptive options. That led him to an automatic wire feeder, which the college’s Accessibility Services purchased for Zachary. 

From there, Zachary and Dave worked side-by-side throughout the program—testing, adjusting, troubleshooting, and ensuring the equipment truly worked for him. “Zach was remarkable. His determination to figure out the new machine was fun to watch and honestly Zach knows how to use the machine better than I do,” Dave said.  

What they didn’t know at the time was that Zachary’s determination would soon become the spark for someone else. 

Tyler Siltman, of Brainerd, also lost the use of his left arm in an accident. With only limited welding experience beforehand, he assumed his dream of welding professionally was no longer possible, until he heard about Zachary. 

“I was like, ‘Welding one-handed? I can’t do that!’” Tyler said. “But (CLC advisor Janet Gonterak) brought me down to the Welding shop. I saw the setup and thought, Okay, I’ll give it a try. It was the best decision I’ve made.” 

With Tyler getting ready to start the program, Dave set out once again to remove barriers. The push button on the original feeder could be awkward to operate, so he looked for additional solutions. His search led him to Central McGowan, which helped him connect with the company CK Worldwide. That’s when CK Worldwide generously donated a foot pedal and pistol‑grip switch to control the feeder, giving Tyler and future students multiple options to find what works best for them. 

“We’re proud to support people who don’t let limitations stand in the way of their passion for welding,” said Grant Stahlberg, Marketing Manager at CK Worldwide. Watching these students find their own way in the shop is a reminder of what this trade is really about: showing up, working through challenges, and taking pride in your work.” 

Today, three months into the program, Tyler is thriving. He said the adaptive technology has made welding possible again—something he once doubted he’d ever feel—and “it feels good.” 

Zachary, now a Welding Program graduate, is continuing his education at CLC, pursuing his AA degree with a goal in mind: 

“I want to teach high school welding one day,” he said. 

And even as he moves forward, Zachary hasn’t forgotten where he started. He still stops by the Welding lab to check in with Tyler, offer encouragement, and celebrate each new milestone. 

It’s a story of perseverance, creativity, and the power of saying yes, even when the path forward isn’t obvious. At Central Lakes College, teamwork and determination helped turn what once felt impossible into something achievable…and inspiring.