The Ventura College welding department has been in the process of fabricating a Pirate compass to be displayed in front of the college Admissions and Records building.

Welding instructor Mike Clark, who has been at the helm of Ventura’s welding program since 2004, oversaw the sculpture project undertaken by students Don Diaz, Ezekial Motha and Josh Reason.

The new piece is a metal compass that features a Pirate ship in the middle of the piece with all the components that will guide Pirates as they guide themselves through rough waters.

“This compass signifies a voyage that a student takes at Ventura College a first step in their journey in higher education,” Clark said.

The welders in the program are also responsible for the world sculpture that sits in the cafeteria. “It is a slow process creating a sculpture but some of the finest things are in the details of any piece,” said David Ortiz, who is in his fourth semester in the program.

The new sculpture was a collaborative project among the students. The process started with an idea that led to fabrication of a piece and finished with etchings such as a moon, star and lighting bolt that bring the finishing details to the compass.

“A discussion is ongoing that started two years ago to replace the ‘Focus Point’ sculpture in front of the Health Center on campus,” Clark said.

Welding is a highly skilled trade required for building and bridge construction, pipelines, aircraft, ship fabrication, automobiles and many branches of industry, according to the program’s website.