Mio-AuSable Students Tour Moran Iron Works and the Industrial Arts Institute

October 30 – Twenty-three welding students from Mio-AuSable High School traveled to Onaway to tour Moran Iron Works and the Industrial Arts Institute (IAI). At Moran Iron Works, project managers guided students through the shop, where they saw major projects underway—including radial gates for a dam and the new DNR research vessel. A highlight was meeting Tom Moran, who explained the component he was working on and answered students’ questions.

Afterward, students visited IAI, where Executive Director Tammi Ward introduced them to the 19-week welding program and showcased current student projects. In the shop, instructors and current cohort members spoke with the group about training, credentials, and career pathways. Students left both tours energized by the scale of the work they observed and the opportunities available in the skilled trades.