Local Talent Shines at IVCC's 2nd Annual Welding Competition

Illinois Valley Community College, in partnership with the American Welding Society, hosted its second annual Welding Competition on April 13, 2024. The event featured 30 participants, including high school and college students, who demonstrated their skills in various welding techniques. Competitors vied for prizes including cash, scholarships, and welding equipment.

The competition offered several awards: a $500 cash prize, two $1,000 scholarships from AWS, and welding gear such as helmets. These prizes aimed to motivate participants and support their educational and professional growth in welding.

Eleven college students and 20 high school students competed, supported by industry sponsors like Vactor Manufacturing, Carus, and Valley Fabrication Inc. These sponsors provided financial support and offered career insights to the students.

Winners were announced in multiple categories. Niles Tremper from LaSalle won the High School Shielded Metal Arc Welding category. In the college division, Brady Wawerski from Ottawa and Javier Montes from Cornell won first place in Shielded Metal Arc Welding and Gas Metal Arc Welding, respectively.

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