Wallace State Welding Hosts Second Annual North Alabama High School Welding Competition

On Friday, March 1, Wallace State Community College’s Welding program welcomed 151 students from over 30 high schools to its second North Alabama High School Welding Competition. The event was held in Wallace State’s Center for Welding Technology and Innovation Center.

“This event is very good exposure for the students as they're building relationships right now,” said Wallace State Welding instructor Melanie Patterson. “With this competition, they all want to win, but they are also meeting people who they may know for the rest of their lives."

Patterson said that, in addition to being a fun day of welding and networking, the competition also addressed an ongoing need for enrollment into the trades.

“There's a huge shortage right now, not only in welding, but with all the trades. The baby boomers are retiring, they're ready to stop working and there aren't enough people to fill their shoes,” said Patterson. "We're here trying to fill that deficit.”

The competition was divided into three divisions: Agriculture, First-Year and Advanced.

Winners in the Ag Division of the North Alabama High School Welding Competition at Wallace State Community College are from left, fifth place, Jeremiah Ergle of Arab High School; fourth place, Dawson Wilson of Arab High School; third place, Bryson Ivey of Arab High School; second place, Adam Garcia of Crossville; first place, Wyatt Lamar of Arab High School.

Winners in the Agriculture division category included:

1) Wyatt Lamar – Arab High School

2) Adam Garcia – Crossville High School

3) Bryson Ivey – Arab High School

4) Dawson Wilson – Arab High School

5) Jeremiah Ergle – Arab High School

Winners in the First-Year Division of the North Alabama High School Welding Competition at Wallace State Community College are from left, fifth place, Caleb Cromer of Dekalb County Technical Center; fourth place, Xylenn Palm, of Jemison High School; third place, Eli Dix of Grissom High School; Noah Brothers, Dekalb County Technology Center, second place; first place, Braxton Daugherty of Dekalb County Technical Center.

Winners in the First-Year division included:

1) Braxton Daugherty, Dekalb County Technology Center

2) Noah Brothers, Dekalb County Technology Center

3) Eli Dix, Grissom High School

4) Xylenn Palm, Jemison High School

5) Caleb Cromer, Dekalb County Technology Center

Winners in the Advanced Division of the North Alabama High School Welding Competition at Wallace State Community College are from left, fifth place, Kevin Salas of AP Brewer High School; fourth place, Brandon Vazquez of Dekalb County Technical Center; third place, Grayson Roberts of East Limestone; second place, Jackson McMillian of Blount County Career Technical Center; first place, Blaine Chambers of Morgan County Schools Technology Park.

Winners in the Advanced division included:

1) Blaine Chambers, Morgan County Schools Technology Park

2) Jackson McMillian, Blount County Career Technical Center

3) Grayson Roberts, East Limestone

4) Brandon Vazquez, Dekalb County Technology Center

5) Kevin Salas, AP Brewer High School

The competition was judged by members of pipe unions out of Birmingham (UA Local 91) and Tuscaloosa (UA Local 372).

The top five competitors of each division were given prizes donated by event sponsors. Some of the prizes included Lincoln Electric welding helmets, Dewalt and Metabo angle grinders and different pieces of apparel from event sponsors like Miller Welding and North Alabama Fabricating Company (NAFCO).

Altec Industries, Gas and Supply Company, Holston Gases and Fastenal Company also sponsored the competition.

Blaine Chambers of Morgan County Schools Technology Park and winner of the Advanced division was awarded the competition’s grand prize: a Lincoln Electric welder donated by Altec Industries.

Wallace State’s Welding program offers associate degrees in Welding and Robotic Welding and certificates in various 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. The Wallace State program boasts yearly job placement rates of 100 percent for students completing the program.

For more information about the Welding program, contact Randy Hammond at 256.352.8272 or randy.hammond@wallacestate.edu or visit www.wallacestate.edu.

The Spring 2024 semester is currently underway at Wallace State, with Mini Term II classes beginning March 6. Priority registration for Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 will begin on April 1. Visit www.wallacestate.edu/register-now to apply and register for classes.

Randy Hammond, chair of the Wallace State Community College Welding program, instructs students participating in the college's second North Alabama High School Welding Competition held on Friday, March 1 at the Center for Welding Technology.