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SUNY Corning Community College has incredible faculty, staff, and instructors. That is one of our biggest strengths, our people. One individual that has made an incredible impact at SUNY CCC is welding instructor, Mark Bellinger.

In December of 2022, Bellinger received the Partners in Education Award from the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce, a prestigious award that recognizes excellence in the field of education.

“I am unquestionably enrapt to have been nominated, let alone to receive the Partners in Education Award,” said Bellinger. “Never in my life would I have thought I'd qualify for such a prestige. This has brought me even more motivation to continue to strive to be the best person I can be, for not only my students but for myself.” 

Photo courtesy of the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce.

It was a well-deserved honor for Bellinger, but his real joy comes from helping others. When asked what the best part of teaching is, Bellinger offered a humbling and thoughtful response.

“My favorite part about teaching this craft to my students is watching them get the "ah-ha" light bulb above their head moment,” said Bellinger. “To then begin cultivating the understanding of what really needs to happen to produce a quality weld that they can not only be proud of but is structurally sound. It’s about being able to create the foundation for someone to start their life/career in a highly-skilled and sought-after trade, and to put food on their family's table, in any corner of the world, for years to come.”

Bellinger has served as the College’s welding instructor for two years and has been instrumental in the program’s growing success. With over 17 years of welding experience, Bellinger brings an array of welding talent and insight to his position, and thus, a bevy of knowledge to share with his students.

His passion for welding stems from his father. At an early age, his father would put sparklers on a stick welder, allowing Bellinger to pretend he was welding at home. Fast-forward to the age of 13, Bellinger began to take a more serious interest in welding and manufacturing, but not without tapping into his creative side.

“I let my imagination run wild with all of the endless options I could drum up as a kid, from modifying bicycles, garden tractors, to creating some very abstract "art" that Picasso could be proud of,” Bellinger jokingly added.

His love for building things has stuck with him throughout the years and extends beyond just welding, as he enjoys spending his free time restoring and performing heavy modifications to classic vehicles.

So, what does this award-winning welding instructor want the everyday person who is possibly unfamiliar with or has preconceived notions about welding to know? For starters, it isn’t as scary or dirty as it looks or is portrayed. And for Bellinger, the work itself is comforting.

“I find it [welding] to be very therapeutic under the right conditions,” added Bellinger. “It is a difficult skill to learn, but with anything you want to get good at in life, it just takes practice, patience, and a little guidance with a voracious attitude. If you've ever considered welding but changed your mind for fear of the stereotypical image it's been given, I highly suggest taking another look through an unskewed lens.”

If you or anyone you know is interested in welding, consider exploring the opportunities within SUNY CCC’s career welding program.