PCCC Welding Students Gain Real-World Experience in Newark Solar Project

For five months, from November 2025 to March 2026, a crew of PCCC student welders worked from 6:00 am to the early evening quitting hour, on a demanding paid job at the Newark Solar Project (NSP).

Working alongside other student teams as well as skilled professional welders, the PCCC students received an invaluable on-site, real-time education in their chosen field.  

The opportunity was secured by Richard Genco, director of the Welding program at PCCC.
“This experience gave our students something the classroom alone cannot fully replicate: real jobsite expectations, real production pace, and real accountability,” said Richard Genco, director of PCCC’s welding program, who had secured the opportunity for the students.

According to Anthony Ruffino, a welding instructor and welder/fabricator on the NSP,
the students and other welders specifically worked on “racks” or “frames” that were fabricated on site.

“Depending on the build, the two types of “frames” are either for weather stations or inverters/solar panels,” said Mr. Ruffino. The frames were to be welded in a certain way to allow the inverters or weather stations to be replaced, if damaged, while maintaining the integrity of the rest of the frame.

By the completion of the project, the welders had finished approximately 19,000 of these racks, which were going to be stored or installed in several locations in the tristate area.

Working alongside highly skilled welders, the PCCC crew of four students and one alumnus were able to employ their classroom skills on an actual worksite where they observe experienced welders in action and learn how skill meets speed to get the job done correctly and on time. “The work is real, expectations are real, and the learning curve is fast,” explained Mr. Ruffino.

Students observed not only how their classroom skills measured up in an actual job environment, but also where they need to improve their job performance in order to become more competitive in the welding job market.

In the course of a working day, students gained info about which tools and equipment to buy, how to cope with on-the-job challenges, such as ventilation and worksite issues, and the importance of being prompt, prepared, and productive.

“On a production site, readiness is visible,” said Mr. Ruffino. “The weld tells the story and so does the pace.”   He noted that in terms of “consistency, workmanship, and pace,” the PCCC crew performed so well they that they drew attention and compliments from multiple foremen and welders on the floor.

PCCC ‘s Anderson Pasiche said, “I actively sought feedback from more experienced welders, regularly asking for guidance and performance evaluations. Their advice helped me refine my technique and improve the quality of my work.”

His class- and teammate, Alexander Martinez-Bello, added “This job helps me build confidence in my welding skills and understand what it truly takes to work efficiently and responsibly in a real-world setting.”

After just their first week on the job, the PCCC students demonstrated that the high expectations they faced…and met… in a real job setting fostered their professional growth and also helped to identify where they needed more in-depth training.

“For our students, this was a major step forward because they were not just practicing the trade, they were living it,” said Mr. Genco. “They had to show up early, solve problems in live conditions, work safely, and produce to industry standards. That kind of exposure builds confidence, sharpens skill, and helps students understand that employability is not just about making a weld, it is about consistency, discipline, and professionalism every day.”

The PCCC Certificate of Achievement in Welding program is located on the Main Campus in Paterson where students train in our new state-of-the-art facility.  Day and evening welding classes are offered. Through the program’s exceptional leadership, Passaic County Community College has become an American Welding Society Educational Institution member.

Learn more about the Welding program at PCCC           

Pictured at top / Group photo of PCCC faculty member, alumnus, and current students (left to right): Justin Hernandez, Daquan Thomas, Anthony Ruffino, Sofia Tito Lopez, Anderson Pasiche, Al Reyes, Alex Martinez-Bello.

Reported and photographed by Anthony Ruffino
Edited by Richard Genco and Linda Telesco