A $10,000 grant from the SAISD Foundation is helping reshape the future of Burbank High School’s welding program and Agricultural Mechanics pathway in San Antonio ISD, providing students with modern equipment, industry-level training, and new career opportunities.

Agricultural Mechanics teacher Shannon Hamilton White, who joined Burbank two years ago after working extensively in the oil field building industrial parts, said the department came together to apply for the grant after recognizing the program’s growing needs. Before receiving the funding, many of the welding machines were limited to a single process or no longer functioning properly. “A lot of them were outdated or did not work,” White said.

Thanks to the grant, the Burbank Ag Mech department purchased new ESAB (Elektriska Svetsnings-Aktiebolaget) welding machines capable of performing multiple welding processes and programmable functions similar to what students will encounter in the workforce. The funding also provided welding hoods, magnets, sleeves, and additional industry-standard tools. White says the grant did more than upgrade equipment; it helped rebuild the entire program.

Rapid Growth and Hands-On Experience

The impact has already been significant. Enrollment in welding and Ag Mechanics courses increased from 182 students to 320 students in the 2025-2026 school year, and school leaders expect those numbers to continue growing. Burbank has already posted an additional teaching position to support increased student demand next year.

Students are also gaining hands-on experience through projects that integrate multiple disciplines within the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway. Recently, a student-built trailer combined skills from welding, fabrication, and Ag structures courses.

For junior Jorge San Miguel, the upgraded program has opened doors to future career possibilities.

“I want to do this after high school,” San Miguel said. “I’m thinking about welding in the military, maybe in the Army.”

San Miguel says the improved equipment has made a noticeable difference in training quality.

“The old machines were a little iffy. They would flicker sometimes,” he said. “The new ones are way better. They have more settings and are closer to what the industry uses now.”

Building Pathways to Long-Term Success

White says the goal is not only to teach technical skills, but to prepare students for long-term success.

“I’m in the shop all the time just trying to help them go out into the world and make something of themselves,” she said.

Students now have the option to graduate with industry certifications, workforce experience, and pathways toward higher education. Many may enter high-paying careers directly after high school, while others may continue their education through programs such as St. Philip’s College to earn associate degrees and pursue leadership opportunities within the field.

Shelby Parker, SAISD Agriculture Science Director, says programs like this also support the district’s College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) goals while helping students earn dual credit and accelerate career pathways.

For White, the success of the program comes down to one thing: opportunity.

“Without the grant, it would have been a struggle for us to be successful here,” White said.

Thanks to support from the SAISD Foundation, Burbank students now have the tools to forge an ironclad future in one of today’s most in-demand industries. Give today to support educator grants.