HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State Community College’s Welding program welcomed nearly 100 high school students from 33 area schools to its first North Alabama High School Welding Competition.
Winners in the first-year category included Curtis Pike of Ernest Pruett Center of Technology, Trace Armstrong of Hayden, Ethan Brownloe of Hayden, Carlos Soto of Danville, and Herschel Osborn of Lawrence County. Advanced category winners were Benjamin Smith of Ider, Steven Norton of East Limestone, Lucas Trevo of Brewer, Forrest Calvert of Cullman and Charlie Jones of MCS Tech Park.
“I was very pleased,” said Randy Hammond, chair of the Wallace State Welding program.
Hammond said the judges were impressed with the high school students competing in the competition.
“They really bragged on the quality of welding they saw from the high school students,” he said. “They saw lots of potential and lots of good welds were made. They told them to stick with it and to pursue their dream.”
Judges were members of Pipe Unions out of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Local 91 and Local 1372.
The top three winners in each category walked away with about $300 in prizes donated by Lincoln Electric, Miller Welding, Holston Gases and Fastenal. Other sponsors for the event were NAFCO (North Alabama Fabrication Company), Inland Buildings, and Altec.
Hammond said the Wallace State program has a 100% job placement rate for students completing the program and that the return on investment for students who choose to earn an associate degree in welding is substantial.
“A student can get an associate degree for around $10,000 and within the first year of working they will pay it off an come out ahead,” he said, adding the minimum base pay for new welders is about $20 per hour.
Wallace State’s Welding program offers associate degrees in Welding and Robotic Welding as well as certificates in numerous welding skills. Welding classes are available at the main campus in Hanceville and at the Oneonta Center. The program is available to Dual Enrollment students, with scholarships available for this summer for TIG welding classes.
For more information about the Welding program, contact Hammond at 256-352-8272 or randy.hammond@wallacestate.edu or visit www.wallacestate.edu.
