Full Circle: How a Student Project Became a Career at Goodhart Sons

Aug 2025

At Goodhart Sons, we understand the value of investing in the future of welding and fabrication. This understanding has guided us in our efforts to have a positive impact on the technology schools in our community. For decades this has meant donating scrap metal to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (TSCT). Each year, students of the Metals Fabrication & Welding Technology Program at TSCT complete a sophomore final project. In 2024, Goodhart Sons was proud to be recognized in the final project concept dubbed, “Sophomore Final Project Goodhart Sons Fire Pit.”

Colin Rodriguez, a standout student in the program, brought the project to life. His fire pit, along with a few other standout projects, was auctioned off at Mid Atlantic Machinery’s annual golf classic, with proceeds directly benefiting TSCT’s Metal Fabrication and Welding program. The fire pit was purchased by its first buyer, who, in a generous act, donated it back to be auctioned a second time. The second buyer followed suit, donating the fire pit back to the auction one final time before Goodhart Sons proudly placed the winning bid in the third round.

Shortly after graduating in 2025, Colin joined our team as a full-time Millwright. Just like his fire pit, he found his way to Goodhart Sons. He’s applying the same passion and craftsmanship he showed in his project to real-world work in the field, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on the team.

Today, the fire pit lives on in one of our lobbies, where we’ve given it a permanent home. Finished with a patina and transformed into a coffee table, it may never hold a fire, but it sparks plenty of conversation. It stands as a tribute to Colin’s skill, the strength of our partnership with Thaddeus Stevens, and our ongoing commitment to investing in the next generation of the skilled trades.

It’s been incredible to watch this story unfold, and we’re grateful to play even a small role in shaping opportunities for students like Colin. Supporting education and investing in the next generation of the skilled trades workforce is part of who we are, and we thank the students and faculty at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology for letting us be part of something truly meaningful.