When students from the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College compete against others in their technical fields for regional, state, and national medals, the pressure is high and the tensions are great. Enter Wayne Layton...sheet metal instructor at the OWATC
and maker of winners!

Wayne has taken students to the National SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City for the past ten years running, and his students, both male and female, have brought home 11 gold medals, 1 silver, and 3 bronze, out-performing every other sheet metal program in the state and making a name for the OWATC nationally. In June, both his secondary student, Brok Layton and his post-secondary student, Jerrod Bingham took first place at the nationals and brought home the gold.

Wayne began working evenings at the OWATC as a union apprentice instructor in 1993. During the day he worked at Superior Air Handling as a sheet metal journeyman doing duct work fabrication. In 1995, Wayne was hired as the full-time sheet metal instructor at the College and that’s when good things began to happen. Wayne hadn’t really considered being a full-time teacher, but when the opportunity was offered, he jumped at the challenge
and hasn’t looked back.

Wayne believes that you “can’t judge a book by its cover” and that each student has potential for success. He says he never picks the winners, doesn’t put a lot of pressure on his students, and lets them progress at their own pace. His winning philosophy is that when students finally get to the national competitions, they should already be prepared and just have fun with it. Wayne’s advice to students who wish to become more competitive and successful in their education and careers is to “stick with it and keep practicing.”

The sheet metal program at OWATC can handle at least 31 students and always has a few openings. There are plenty of jobs for sheet metal graduates in manufacturing, construction, or at Hill Air Force Base in aircraft repair. Most graduates can expect to earn between $9 and $10 per hour to start moving up to $25 per hour when they complete their
apprenticeship and become a journeyman.

When asked where he would be right now if not at the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College teaching sheet metal, Wayne Layton said he is an avid aviation buff and would hopefully be flying something. Judging by his record of turning out competent students, Wayne Layton is already flying high above the competition.