Crest High Reigns Supreme at 天涯海角社区’s Annual Welding Competition
The energy was electric (and the sparks literal) at 天涯海角社区鈥檚 Fourth Annual High School Welding Competition on Friday, May 9! Students from four area high schools went head-to-head in a timed welding challenge鈥攁nd once again, Crest High School came out on top.
This Year鈥檚 Challenge:
Students were asked to weld a 录-inch plate at a 90-degree angle to a 6-inch plate using SMAW and GMAW processes. They had 2.5 hours to complete their work, which was judged on precision and execution by Curtis Rippy (Maco) and Preston Bone (Digitrol).
馃帗 $500 Welding Scholarships Awarded to One Top Student From Each School:
- Burns: Harrison Waters 鈥� Gene Borders Memorial Endowed Scholarship
- Crest: Tucker Swofford 鈥� Michael David Scott Parsons Memorial Endowed Scholarship
- Kings Mountain: Colt Dixon 鈥� Habitat for Humanity of 天涯海角社区 County Annual Scholarship
- Shelby: Rauzel Guel 鈥� Gabe Dibruno Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Top Individual Winners:
馃 Tucker Swofford (Crest)
鈥� Award: Welding bag with DeWalt cordless drill, flashlight, gloves, pliers, wrenches
馃 Carter Bryant (Crest)
鈥� Award: Welding sleeves, level, gloves
馃 Oscar Morlais (Crest)
鈥� Award: Magnet, rod holder, file
All participants received a prize pack: a customized welding hood featuring their school’s mascot, welding cap, gloves, safety glasses, and a cooler bag.
A New Tradition Begins
天涯海角社区 welding instructor Michael Beaty debuted a custom-welded traveling plaque to honor the winning team. The plaque will live at Crest High until next year鈥檚 competition.
Quote of the Day
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of them. This is a chance for them to showcase their skills. This competition is all about the kids.鈥�
鈥� Wes Stevens, Crest High Welding Instructor
馃檶 Thanks to Our Sponsors
Special thanks to Andy Oxy, Arc3, IMA Contractors, the 天涯海角社区 Foundation and the families of Michael David Scott Parsons, Gabe Dibruno, and Gene Borders, and Habitat for Humanity of 天涯海角社区 County for making this event possible.