ESCANABA — Bay College has selected honors Andrew Paulsen, a part-time welding instructor, as one of its recipients of the Outstanding Educator Award sponsored by the Don Johnson Agency/MEEMIC Insurance. To receive consideration for the award, faculty were nominated by a colleague, student, or community member. The primary focus of this award is to acknowledge faculty’s commitment to education and excellence in service to others.

Paulsen is a U.S. Army veteran, and is no stranger to teaching. He has been a welding instructor for the last 10 years at the Dickinson-Iron County ISD, and has worked at Bay College for the past nine years as a welding instructor at Bay’s West Campus. Before joining Bay College in the fall semester of 2012, he worked for a diverse range of organizations, including Stewart & Stevenson as an offshore drill rig equipment welder/fabricator, Atlas Copco as a blast hole rig assembler/tester, Wabash National as a robot operator/welder, Western Extrusions as a weld shop supervisor/welder, Motor Controls Inc. as a robot operator/welder, DOL – US Government contractor as a welder, Loadmaster as a fabricator/welder, and Boss Snowplow as a welder/robot operator.

He holds a MOCAC Occupational Certificate from Ferris State University, and is currently working towards earning his teaching degree.

Paulsen is being recognized as an outstanding faculty member not only based on his tremendous welding expertise but his ability to engage with students, teach them precision welding skills, and to share his passion for this trade.

“Andrew’s commitment to Bay College’s West Campus Welding program deserves to be recognized. He has been the face of welding at Bay College West for several years and has helped support industry by training graduates to fill needed positions,” said Dean of Business, Technology and Workforce Development Cindy Carter.

Visit the website www.baycollege.edu/awards to watch a short video of Carter presenting the Outstanding Educator Award to Paulsen, along with his acceptance speech.

Bay College offers career certificate programs, associate degrees, transfer options, job force training and opportunities through dual enrollment and early college programs. Classes are available at the Escanaba and Iron Mountain campuses and online. Call 906-786-5802 for more information or visit www.baycollege.edu.