National welding talent pool in spotlight in college labs

Published 06.17.2024

Photos by Alexandra Butler, photographer/photo editor

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    One of 18 finalists in the National Welding League Championship shapes a model space shuttle in Penn College's welding lab.

    Pennsylvania College of Technology hosted some of the best young welders in the nation last week. The college’s 55,000-square-foot welding facility served as the home for two national competitions, conducted by Project MFG, a skilled-trades advocacy group. A mix of high school and trade school students from throughout the country advanced through qualifying rounds to make the finals of the National Welding League Championship and the Maritime National Championship.

    The 18 finalists for the National Welding League Championship had to assemble and weld a model space shuttle with rocket boosters. The 16 students vying for the Maritime National Championship were tasked with assembling and welding a model destroyer ship. The prizes were identical for both hands-on competitions: $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second and $2,500 for third.

    Several Penn College welding faculty served as judges for the championships.

    “For us to be able to link up with Project MFG and host the nationwide competitions is a phenomenal way to expose more young people to the field of welding, as well as more people to Penn College,” said Bradley M. Webb, dean of engineering technologies.

    Both competitions will be chronicled in separate episodes of “Clash of Trades,” a video series presented by Project MFG. The episodes taped at Penn College will premiere in mid-July on Project MFG’s YouTube Channel. 

    The 18 finalists for the National Welding League Championship wait for their cue to begin the competition. The winner received $10,000.
    Crew members with ATS, a Los Angeles-based production company, capture the action for Project MFG's video series, “Clash of Trades.” The winners of both competitions will be revealed on the program in mid-July.
    The students vying for the National Welding League Championship were tasked with assembling and welding a model space shuttle with rocket boosters.
    Cody W. Wolfe (right), an instructor of welding and a judge for the competition, checks in on one of the competitors.
    A young welder demonstrates steady skills as her space shuttle begins to "lift off."
    James N. Colton II, assistant professor and co-department head of welding at Penn College, is interviewed by the ATS crew. ATS taped both competitions for episodes of “Clash of Trades.” The programs will premiere in mid-July on Project MFG’s YouTube channel.
    For the Maritime National Championship, students employed their welding skills to match this model of a destroyer ship.
    Sparks fly as one of the Maritime participants begins the project. The top prize was $10,000.
    Detailed prints provide a guide for the Maritime competitors.
    The final products give the judges, including Colton, the difficult task of distinguishing the best from the rest.

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