Welding helmets donated to Tecumseh High School

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - In Warrick County, Tecumseh High School now has more than $500 worth of welding supplies.

The equipment was donated in honor of 19-year-old Garrett Ward who died in a boating accident last year.

Garrett was a welder at S and S Machine Shop in Boonville. His mother Tina Howton says donating the welding supplies will give other students a chance to do what Garrett love to do.

Howton says she and her whole family attended Tecumseh High School so Friday's presentation was very bittersweet.

Tecumseh has a new Ag power structure and technology program.

The students rushed to look at the new welding helmets and tools. School officials say they had no welding equipment and were waiting for this donation to do the welding part of the course.

Each helmet, has a feather on it. Garrett drew the feather picture before the accident, and since then its become a symbol of remembrance.

This summer 14 NEWS was at the Smokin' for Garrett BBQ and fundraiser which raised money for the equipment.

It was the second year for the event and already the proceeds have doubled, showing just what an impact Garrett had in Warrick County. Now more students will know who he was.

"It makes me very proud, and I know that he would be proud, and I'm just blessed, the community, the sponsors, the community that comes out and buys the BBQ and the t-shirts and everything, it couldn't be possible without them, the volunteers, my family, his friends, its overwhelming and I'm blessed, were all blessed for it," said Howton.

There is also a Garrett Ward scholarship that students can apply for closer to the end of the school year. Howton says they prefer someone who wants to go into a technical field since that is what her son did; applications will be available at Warrick County schools.

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