March 19, 2025
Kenneth Kuk, ‘patriarch’ of Ferris State’s Bachelor of Welding program, is inducted into the Welding Engineering Technology Hall of Fame
Kenneth Kuk, the “patriarch” of Ferris State University’s Bachelor of Welding program, was inducted into the Welding Engineering Technology Hall of Fame today, celebrating his career in education and his impact on generations of students.
Ferris State’s Bachelor of Welding program, at about 50 graduates in recent years, is the largest in the nation. Every student in the program since its inception has had Kuk as a professor.
Jeffrey Carney, program coordinator for Welding Engineering Technology programs, said Kuk was the driving force behind the development, launch, growth of the bachelor program, which he said is one of the university’s most successful.
Carney said Kuk also played a key role in securing funding for the $30 million expansion of the Swan Building expansion, home to several career technology programs. He also recognized the need for updated equipment and formed partnerships with manufacturers so students can be ready to step right into careers.
Kuk, who recently retired from teaching, also recommended the name of the college shift from College of Technology to the College of Engineering Technology, reflecting the changes in industry as well as the program offerings.
Kate O’Connor, dean of the College of Engineering Technology, noted that Ferris State started offering welding as a certificate program in 1955, and it was established as an associate degree program in the 1970s.
“Ken was hired in 1985 to start the Bachelor of Science degree, so he has served as the patriarch of this program,” she said.
O’Connor read online reviews from former students who described Kuk as a thorough and passionate professor who pushed students to become the best they could be and prepared them for successful careers.
The bachelor program has grown from an average of 10 graduates in the 1980s to 49 graduates in last three years – with a near perfect placement rate.
“The bachelor program, when we started, could sit around one of these little tables,” Kuk told guests at the induction ceremony. “And I was about a day-and-a-half ahead of them because there was no curriculum. I’d go home, dream up a lesson plan and teach it the next day. It was a lot of work, but things slowly got better.”
Prior to Ferris State, Kuk worked as a product/arc welding application engineer for GMF Robotics, a manufacturing/welding engineer for National Element, and a project engineer for Wall Comonoy.
The Welding Engineering Technology Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to acknowledge leaders who have excelled and achieved success in the welding industry and are linked to the Ferris State program.
Kuk is the 22nd person to be inducted into the hall, which is located in Swan Hall on Ferris State’s Big Rapids campus.