Sean Franco, a welding instructor and Army veteran at Wharton County Junior College, earned national recognition by receiving the 2023 Excellence in Welding Award for veterans from the American Welding Society (AWS). He was chosen by the AWS Welding Equipment Manufacturers Committee for his exceptional dedication to promoting welding. Franco, who served two tours in Iraq and received a Purple Heart, is an alumni of WCJC’s welding program. He returned as an instructor in 2017, and his commitment to mentoring and guiding students has earned him this prestigious award.