Clayton Miller poses with the tools of his trade. (Photo Provided)

LOWELL — For Clayton Miller, the love of making things led him to study welding, a trade that is needed in many aspects of modern life.

He said welding provides great jobs and many opportunities

Miller, a senior at Fort Frye High School, is co-enrolled in the welding program at the Washington County Career Center. He is the son of Jeremy and Michelle Miller of Lowell.

As a student at Fort Frye, he was active in FFA, student council and he is still active in the school’s sports programs as a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams.

“I played quarterback, running back and cornerback in football,” he said. “I was a small forward and power forward in basketball and outfield in baseball.”

Clayton Miller strikes a pose for the Fort Frye High School football team photo shoot. (Photo Provided)

Miller is a triple varsity letter athlete at Fort Frye.

Miller has completed all of his high school classes and began studying at the Career Center in his junior year and by his senior year he was a full-time student there, although he is still considered a Fort Frye High School student.

Miller said he was attracted to the program because he could work with his hands.

“I really thought making things was really cool,” he said. “It is a good career path, it is something we will always need.

“There are always great jobs and opportunities.”

Clayton Miller with his second place medal in welding at the SkillsUSA competition. (Photo Provided)

His first exposure to welding was in a class in high school.

“That class was to prepare me to go in the program at the career center,” he said. “After I graduate this spring I plan to enter the workforce and try to make the most of it.”

When he graduates from high school and the career center he will have a certificate in the 3G MIG welding process.

“I will also have a brazing and soldering qualification,” he said. “They are used to connect copper water pipes.”

He said he thinks he does his best at the MIG welding.

Clayton Miller, left, dribbles the ball this past basketball season in a Fort Frye High School game against Waterford. (Photo Provided)

Recently he was in the SkillsUSA competition. Miller is the vice president of the center’s SkillsUSA chapter.

“This was my first time in the competition,” he said.

In the regional competition he placed second, qualifying for the state welding competition.

“I didn’t make the top three, so I won’t be going to the national competition, but I did pretty good,” he said.

In the competition the students are given an item to make.

Clayton Miller at work with a welding project. (Photo Provided)

“We all got the same blueprints and we built the same thing,” he said. “We just weld it out and we are judged on the welds.”

He added they are also judged on the time it took to complete the project.

“We built T joints,” he said. “We had to build four of them.”

In addition to SkillsUSA he is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society and a student ambassador for the career center.

He also volunteers for the Lowell American Legion at their steak fry and Oktoberfest.

Clayton Miller runs the ball in a game from last season. (Photo Provided)

Jeffrey Saulton can be reached at jsaulton@newsandsentinel.com

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Clayton Miller runs the football for Fort Frye High School this past football season. (Photo Provided)

Clayton Miller strikes a pose for the Fort Frye High School football team photo shoot. (Photo Provided)

Clayton Miller plays outfield for the Fort Frye High School baseball team. (Photo Provided)

Clayton Miller warms up at half time. Miller has letters in three sports at Fort Frye High School. (Photo Provided)