Contestants welding mid-competition in the Cochise College Career and Technical Building.
The 19th annual Cochise College high school welding competition took place in the Career and Technical Building last Friday on the Sierra Vista Campus.
Participants included 52 students from high schools all across Arizona including Benson, Bowie, Douglas, Mingus, Monument, Red Mountain, San Simon, Skyline, St. David, St. Johns and West-Mec, making it the largest group of contestants yet.
Each student who participated in the competition was tested on shield metal arc welding, oxy-fuel cutting, gas metal arc welding, oxy-fuel welding and also had to complete one written exam.
Students who participated in the competition also got a first-hand look at the welding lab and programs offered by Cochise College.
“We do this for the students,” said Scott Brown, Cochise College welding instructor. “It helps students broaden their welding skills and helps them to be more confident. There are not a lot of competitions around where students have that experience.”
In addition to gaining experience, prizes were provided by local companies and industry leaders to students who placed in the competition.
The ten students in order of how they placed are: Denton Fenn, a sophomore from Benson; Aaron Sherrill, a senior from St. Johns; Ronnie Higginbatham, a senior from St. David; Colter Leslie, a senior from St. Johns; Joel Elias, a senior from Douglas; Nick Rodriguez, a senior from St. Johns; Kyla Cook from Skyline; Stanton Begay, a senior from West-Mec; Tyler Allen, a sophomore from Benson; Caleb Weaver a sophomore from St. David.