TSTC Brownwood hosted their annual welding competition on Friday with 61 high school students competing. This was the largest attendance in the competition’s history according to organizers.
Schools participating included Bangs, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Carrigan Career & Technical Center (Wichita Falls), Cherokee, Holliday, Lampasas, Liberty Hill, Mason, Midland, Rochester Vocational Tech, and San Saba.
Students were given a chance to put their welding skills to the test for a chance to win scholarship money and various prizes. In addition to a hands-on skills test in the welding shop, there was a written exam to test their knowledge of the craft.
Once the skills tests concluded, an awards ceremony was held.
Taking top honors was Gray Williamson from Wichita Falls, pictured at top. The top three contestants received a trophy as well a welding helmet, gloves and a certificate.
Awards were presented to the following:
1st Place: Gray Williamson – Wichita Falls (pictured at top)
2nd Place: Colby Breeding – Brookesmith
3rd Place: Gage Eager – Wichita Falls
4th Place: Phillip Morris – Holliday
5th Place: Jose Acosta – Brownwood
TSTC Welding Instructor Jay Burkes challenged all of the young welders to continue to learn the skills it takes to become a successful welder and to do so by attending one of TSTC’s welding programs offered at their Brownwood, Breckenridge and Sweetwater campuses.
Both Burkes and TSTC Breckenridge Welding Instructor Michael Redding explained that welding is a skill that is in demand, that there is a need for certified welders, a skills gap in the current workforce. Welding programs such as TSTC’s allow the students to learn a skill and graduate in about 2 years, ready for employment.
TSTC Director of Instructional Support Services Dr. Les Plagens encouraged the students, “Continue to get better, seek the next level of certification, that’s where the skills gap is.”
Lincoln Electric, a world leader welding product design and development, was a supporter of the event and had a virtual welder on site throughout the day so that those interested in learning what it’s like to weld by virtually “playing around” with the craft. Airgas, one of the nation’s leading suppliers of welding gases and safety equipment, was also a supporter of the competition.
