Who is Tayden Franklin? Meet the 11-year-old West Virginia homeschool student pursuing a welding certification and inspiring young learners

At just 11 years old, Tayden Franklin of West Virginia is drawing national attention for pursuing a welding certification while being homeschooled. Guided by his father and supported by a welding instructor, Tayden has developed impressive skills in the trade and is working toward becoming one of the youngest certified welders in the United States. Beyond welding, Tayden enjoys learning about scuba diving, aviation, animation, and 3D printing, reflecting his passion for hands-on education and technical skills. Rather than focusing on one career path, Tayden's journey is inspiring young learners to develop practical skills and build confidence for the future.

Tayden is enrolled in a welding program through Marshall Advanced Technology and the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center in Huntington, where he is expected to complete his welding certification later this summer. Tayden's father, Brandon Franklin, explained that their homeschooling method emphasizes hands-on learning, allowing his son to explore different skills and interests before making any career decisions.

"He had an artistic mind," Brandon told WCHSTV. "He wanted to create things. He wanted to build things like a lot of kids. When you have a creative mind and you want to utilize that mind in an artistic way, welding is an art."



As per the media outlet, the American Welding Society projects that the US will need more than 320,000 new welding professionals by 2029 as veteran workers retire and demand for skilled trades continues to rise.

According to instructor Brad Lowe, Tayden is the youngest student he has trained, joining the program after his family requested one-on-one instruction through Marshall.

"First time for everything," Lowe said as quoted by the outlet. "He's done very well. He's just like most of my adult students so far."

Tayden told the outlet that he is staying open to different possibilities as he considers his future career path.

"I don't know what my job's going to be when I grow up," he said. "I have plenty of options. If there's something in the future like they need welders, then I can just go to that."