WEST PLAINS, MO- Twenty-eight high school juniors and seniors participated in the fifth annual welding competition, hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains’ (MSU-WP) Workforce Development and Community Education on Dec. 5.
The students represented Licking High School, as well as the Piney River Technical Center (PRTC), Houston; Southern Missouri Technical Institute (SMIT), West Plains; and Ozark Mountain Technical Center (OMTC), Mountain Grove.
The competition took place at the Pace Industrial Science Center on the MSU-WP campus.
“Our fifth annual welding competition was another great success,” said Trevor Cressman, director of workforce development and community education. “This annual event is a great opportunity for high school students who are interested in welding and other skilled trades. This competition provides them with an opportunity to showcase their skills and explore how Missouri State-West Plains can help them achieve their goals.”
The competition included written and hands-on welding tests. The students were provided with instructions on the types of welds required and judged on ten specific areas, including the weld process, joint and position.
Winners were:
- First Place: Bryson Berkshire, OMTC (Mountain Grove)
- Second Place: Eli Newsome, Piney River Technical Center
- Third Place: Jackson Uchtman, Southern Missouri Technical Institute
Judges for the event were Bills Adams of Adams Construction, Danny Lilo of Airgas and Dillon Tribble of West Plains Recycling Center.
Scholarship awards in the amounts of $1,000, $750 and $500 were presented to the first, second and third place finishers. In addition to the scholarships, winners received a trophy and cash prizes.
Chuck Cook, welding and fabrication instructor at MSU-WP was impressed with the skills displayed by the participants and their readiness to compete. Their abilities reflected their high school or vocational programs instructors’ leadership.
“The quality of work from the competitors was encouraging and shows the future of the welding industry,” Cook said. “There is a need for skilled trades and each of these students will have an opportunity to learn new skills and have a career in the welding and fabrication industry.”
MSU-WP officials are appreciative of the event sponsors, including Adams Construction, Caterpillar, West Plains Recycling Center, Hughes Towing, Mr. Dent, The Steel Yard and Perennial Energy.
For more information about the welding contest or the technical programs offered by MSU-WP, contact Cook at 417-255-7787 or email at CCook@MissouriState.edu.
