If you need something built, welded, poured, or fixed, there’s a good chance Randy Gardner can get it done—and probably faster than you’d expect. Over the course of his career, Randy has worn more hats than most people can count: builder, welder, concrete finisher, mechanic, and even leader of a 75-man team. These days, you’ll find him at Meridian, quietly making a big difference in the lives of students by helping develop vocational programs and supporting the work that prepares them for the future.

Randy is the kind of guy who’s been everywhere and done just about everything. "I worked for myself for 15 years," Randy says, remembering the days when his hands were constantly busy building Morton buildings and pouring concrete. But before that, he spent 21 years working on the river with American Commercial Barge Line, starting as a mechanic and eventually becoming second in command at the dry dock facility. "I had 75 guys under me, and we kept things running," Randy says, a hint of pride in his voice.

These days, Randy’s career has taken a different turn, one that has brought him to Meridian in a role that’s as versatile as his skillset. "I started in a facilities maintenance capacity," he explains, "but it quickly morphed into more than that." From teaching students how to read a tape measure to getting the woodshop program up and running again, Randy has taken on a little bit of everything. "I started out working with fourth graders after school, teaching them woodworking, and it just kind of grew from there."

But it wasn’t long before the school tapped into his experience as a welder. "I did a welding program after school, and we had so much interest that I started implementing welding into the shop class during the day," Randy says. "Some of the kids jumped right in and did really well." For Randy, the key to vocational education is giving students exposure to the trades early on, allowing them to figure out whether it’s something they want to pursue. "It’s about sparking that interest," he says. "You never know what’ll click for a student."

The welding program at Meridian has been a resounding success, with several students going on to further their welding education at Shawnee Community College. "We’re really fortunate to have this program at a school our size," Randy says. "Not many schools offer welding, but it’s such an important skill."

And it’s not just about welding. Randy is a big believer in the value of skilled labor, and he’s quick to share his philosophy with the students he works with. "There’s nothing wrong with being a laborer," he says, "but skilled laborers tend to do a little better for their families. That’s what I try to explain to the kids—you can make a good living with these skills."

Randy speaks from experience. His career has taken him from dry docks to construction sites, and he’s learned that having a trade under your belt opens doors. "I’ve been welding for over 40 years, and it’s a skill that’s served me well," Randy says. "It’s like putting two pieces of metal together—if you can do that, you’re opening up all kinds of possibilities."

In addition to welding, Randy’s role at Meridian has expanded to include just about anything that needs doing. "If it’s broken, I’m probably the one fixing it," he jokes. But he’s not just fixing things—he’s helping shape the school’s vocational curriculum and giving students the tools they need to succeed. Whether it’s auto mechanics, welding, or carpentry, Randy is committed to making sure the students at Meridian leave with practical, real-world skills.

Randy’s dedication doesn’t go unnoticed by the students he works with. "When you’ve got somebody who wants to learn, it’s not a problem," Randy says. "The kids who get excited about welding or woodworking, those are the ones who are going to go far." And Randy is already seeing the results—he’s helped three former students land jobs on the river, following in his footsteps as welders and deckhands. "One of them just started as a welder," he says. "And the opportunities are endless if they want to keep going—there’s always more to learn, more to build."

And that’s the message Randy hopes to leave with the students of Meridian: the opportunities are out there, and the trades offer a rewarding, stable path. "It’s not just about making a living," he says. "It’s about finding something you’re good at, something you enjoy doing. And for a lot of these kids, that’s working with their hands, building something that’ll last."

As Randy reflects on his time at Meridian, he’s proud of the work he’s done and the programs he’s helped build. "We’re giving these kids a place to start," he says. "If they don’t have a place to start, how are they going to figure out where to go?"

For the Meridian community, Randy Gardner represents the best of what vocational education has to offer. With his wealth of experience and his hands-on approach, he’s helping shape the future of the district’s young people, one weld, one building, one student at a time.