Providing Career Technical Training to Students in Auglaize and Mercer Counties
Perts Family Makes Monetary Donation
The James Leslie Perts family formally handed over their donation of $41,357.34 to senior welding students
. In a brief gathering, Karen Perts explained to the students why the welding program was receiving the donation.
Jim Perts earned a bachelor's degree in metallurgy and was a metallurgist with the St. Marys Foundry for 47 years. Tri Star Career Compact became one of his many interests after he toured the new facility and saw the hands-on training opportunities offered to area students. Mr. Perts was also an avid musician and collected musical instruments and memorabilia. Mr. Perts passed away in August of 2021. The Perts family wanted to honor his interest in education and Tri Star; and in the summer of 2022 they held a celebration of life and fundraiser in his honor. His collection of musical memorabilia was sold, and the proceeds were used to establish the James Leslie Perts Memorial Fund at the Mercer County Civic Foundation. The money in the Fund was to be donated to Tri Star Career Compact for the development of a welding/metal testing lab.
The funds have been used to purchase a Struers StructureExpert Weld*, an electromagnetic yoke kit** for magnetic particle inspections, and Dye Penetrant Testing equipment***. The new equipment has been set up for student use in a new metal testing area in the welding lab. Tri Star is the only welding program in the state to own the Struers StructureExpert Weld equipment and is very grateful that this generous donation has made it possible to enhance the welding lab and curriculum.
*Struers StructureExpert Weld is used for the inspection of macro/micro etch weld specimens for purposes of weld and base metal inspection, weld procedure qualification and verification, and welder qualification testing.
** An electromagnetic yoke kit is used for magnetic particle inspections. It is designed to detect surface and sub-surface indications.
*** Dye Penetrant Testing equipment detects surface defects of solid nonporous or nonpermeable materials.
