Carter Casanova: A Path Made Possible at UBTech
Carter Casanova has always felt drawn to hands-on work. While still in high school, he began taking welding courses at UBTech in 2019, discovering early on that the trades aligned with his interests and strengths.
After graduating, he entered the oil and gas industry, continuing that hands-on path, where welding would occasionally surface as part of the work.
“I’ve always wanted to work with my hands,” Casanova said.
In March 2024, Casanova’s life took an unexpected turn. He was involved in a serious ATV accident near Jensen Hills and was Life Flighted to the University of Utah hospital. The crash resulted in a traumatic injury to his lower spine at the L1 level and damage to his tailbone, leaving him with very limited mobility.
While some sensation later returned above his knees, he currently has no feeling below the knees and is mostly wheelchair‑bound. After many months of recovery, Casanova was faced with redefining his path forward.
“After the accident, I had to really reevaluate what kind of careers would still work for me,” he said. “I knew I didn’t want an office job, and I kept coming back to welding.”
That decision led him to the UBTech Training Center, sponsored by Norco Inc. and Miller Electric Manufacturing Company. This partnership connects UBTech students with state-of-the-art welding equipment and industry specific supply chain consumables, second-to-none.
Returning to welding felt familiar, but doing so from a wheelchair came with new challenges.
Casanova quickly found that UBTech’s facilities and instructors were willing to meet him where he was. “The welding booths were wide enough for my wheelchair,” he said, “and the instructors were great about helping me figure out how to see my welds and adjust how I worked.”
One of the biggest obstacles came during TIG welding, which typically requires the use of a foot pedal. Through collaboration between UBTech’s Titan Support Center and industry partner Miller, an alternative solution was found.
Miller had fingertip controls that allowed Casanova to operate the TIG welder independently.
“There were definitely challenges, but with the accommodations and support, I was able to finish the program successfully from my wheelchair.”
Casanova went on to complete both the Welding Basic Technician and the Welding Advanced Certificates at UBTech, a milestone that represented far more than technical training and culminated in his participation in UBTech’s recent commencement ceremony.
While still a student, Casanova’s connection to UBTech led to an unexpected moment that would further support his future. Last year, during a UBTech/UBVA Art Auction Scholarship Fundraising Event, Casanova’s father, Chris Casanova, had photography pieces featured in the auction. Chris invited his son to stop by the event to see the artwork. After visiting with his dad, he noticed a Miller welder on display as part of a raffle supporting scholarships. Before Carter headed down the hall to attend his welding class, he purchased a single ticket.
Later that evening, while Casanova was in the welding shop attending class, he learned that his raffle ticket from the UBTech fundraising event had been selected. The prize was a Millermatic 211 multi‑process MIG welder—equipment he says he’s already used and continues to rely on.
“I used it just last week,” Casanova said. His good fortune continued in 2026, when he also walked away from the same UBTech fundraising event with a Miller welding helmet.
Today, Casanova continues to weld from home and is exploring future work opportunities and the possibility of starting his own business. “I really just wanted to stay in the trades and keep doing something I enjoy,” he said.
His connection to UBTech is deeply rooted in family as well. His father, Chris, previously completed IT programs at UBTech and is currently employed in the IT field, along with several friends and family members.
Scholarships, vocational rehabilitation assistance, and institutional support all played a role in making Carter’s education possible. “Those resources made it feasible for me to come back and do this,” Casanova said.
“At UBTech, we’re committed to making technical education accessible and supportive for every student,” Said Jenalee Moynier, Director of Student Success and Access. “Carter’s determination, combined with industry partnerships and thoughtful accommodations, shows what’s possible when barriers are removed.”
Miller Welding echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of empowering skilled tradespeople from all backgrounds. “Carter represents exactly why we support technical education and colleges like UBTech,” Jim Truett, Northwest Regional Manager at Miller. “Talent comes in many forms, and we’re proud to provide tools that help remove barriers and allow dedicated welders to do what they do best.”
For Casanova, the journey hasn’t been easy—but it has been worth it. “There were tough moments, for sure,” he said. “But finishing both certificates showed me I can still do what I love. I just had to find a new way to do it.”
Carter Casanova stands in front of Norco and Miller partnership displays at UBTech, representing the support and industry collaboration that helped him return to welding after a life-changing accident and find a new path forward in the trades he loves.
Carter Casanova works from his wheelchair in his home welding space with his Miller helmet and Millermatic 211 multi-process MIG welder, continuing to refine his skills after returning to the trade following a life-changing accident.
Carter Casanova celebrates his graduation from UBTech after completing both Basic and Advanced Welding certificates—a powerful milestone that reflects resilience, determination, and his commitment to keep moving forward.
