For Clatsop Community College student Sara Ruscetta, welding is more than a new skill, it’s the spark that has her excited about her future.
Ruscetta, a former landscape contractor and chainsaw sculpture artist, faced heartbreaking challenges after the passing of her daughter’s father left her struggling with homelessness. With caring support of community and a local church, Sara began to rebuild her life but didn’t have a clear path forward.
She found her path by chance when she saw a photo of a student welding on the cover of a CCC class schedule that had been mailed out across the community. “I said, that’s it, that’s what I want to do,” Ruscetta recalled. “I wanted to move on with my life, and I knew college was the only thing that made sense. I knew the path I was on, I could see the steps I had to take, and I started welding.”
After just two welding classes during spring term 2025, Ruscetta knew she had found her calling. Determined not to lose momentum over the summer, when welding courses weren’t offered, she turned to CCC’s Cooperative Work Experience (CWE) program. CWE gives students the opportunity to earn college credit while gaining hands-on experience with local employers. Typically, CWE placements occur in the second year of study when students are further along in their studies and knowledge.
Although still new to welding, Ruscetta convinced instructor Kevin Eaton to sign off on a CWE placement and landed an internship with Brendon Stock, Boatyard Manager at the Port of Astoria. Initially shadowing welders, Ruscetta eventually took on her own ambitious project: fabricating an outrigger rack for the boatyard out of scrap material the Port already had on site. The rack would allow the boatyard to store outriggers off the commercial fishing vessels in an efficient and space saving manner.
The leap from shadowing welders to fabricating a large rack was not lost on anyone. “It quickly became clear that Sara was in over her head,” Stock said. “But instead of backing down, she resourced herself with anyone who had a listening ear. She grew immensely as a welder, fabricator, worker, networker, problem solver, and individual. I am proud of the endurance and perseverance that Sara has shown. She has been in the yard from open to close almost daily and completed 258 hours for this work experience.”
Ruscetta is quick to share credit with her mentors. “I think CCC Instructor Kevin Eaton needs to get an award,” she said with a laugh. “He wasn’t teaching over the summer, but I would call him with questions weekly and he would always help me problem solve.”
Now back in classes at CCC’s MERTS campus, Ruscetta is focused on classes and advancing her skills to earn industry certifications. Her ultimate goal: to work for the Army Corps of Engineers. “I’m setting goals to get my AWS certifications so I can qualify to work for them. I met a group of them while out at the boatyard and they gave me advice on what to do. I can make a great salary with these skills and that job to support myself and my family. That is my goal.”
For Stock, the collaboration between the Port and the college is encouraging. “This is a do-it-yourself boatyard that brings people across the community together in this location—and that should include the college as well. I’m encouraged to see where collaborations like this go and want to see more students out here,” he said.
Ruscetta encourages other students to take advantage of CWE. “I would love to see other students do CWE. I’ve advanced my learning so much and I got to jump in on projects I wouldn’t have tried for a few more terms,” she said. “Hood time is good time. If I’m under the hood, I’m happy.”
Through CCC’s Welding program and Cooperative Work Experience, Ruscetta is forging more than steel; she’s forging a new life.
