“There’s something powerful about helping a young person realize they’re good at something—especially when maybe they haven’t heard that much in their life before.”
Wylie Messer teaches Welding and Advanced Manufacturing at Great Crossing High School in Georgetown, Kentucky. A former millwright and fabricator who worked across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, Messer brings real-world industry knowledge into the classroom. His journey began as a high school welding student under a skilled mentor — an experience that inspires him to give back to the very community that shaped him. Today, he also teaches at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, the same school where he earned his associate degree in Welding, guiding students along the same path that launched his career. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Career and Technical Education from the University of Louisville, blending industry expertise with advanced educational training to prepare students for both the classroom and the workforce. Messer was the 2021 Teacher of the Year at Great Crossing High School.
Messer has built a professional-grade training environment where students work with welders, plasma cutters, CNC plasma, and CAD technology while tackling projects from structural plate work to motorsports fabrication. His program aligns with American Welding Society SENSE standards and embeds key certifications such as OSHA 10 and 2G Structural Welding, ensuring graduates leave with industry-recognized credentials.
Through SkillsUSA competitions, job shadowing, internships, and industry tours, Messer connects students to apprenticeships, local employers, and postsecondary programs. His one-on-one coaching and peer mentoring model mirrors a real job site, building technical expertise alongside leadership and professionalism. By creating a state-of-the-art learning environment and teaching and mentoring more than 120 students annually, Messer demonstrates how skilled trades education can equip the next generation with both technical mastery and career-ready skills.
Notes of Excellence:
- Messer leads a robust SkillsUSA chapter with students winning multiple regional welding competitions and advancing to the SkillsUSA national competition. Under his leadership, Great Crossing High School won a Gold medal for SkillsUSA Chapter of Distinction in 2024.
- 90 percent of Messer’s seniors earn at least one industry-recognized certification (OSHA 10, Hot Work, or 2G Structural Welding) before graduation.
- Many graduates of Messer’s program go directly into the workforce, with high-paying jobs in local fabrication shops, union apprenticeships, traveling welding jobs, or the military.