TSTC hosts North Texas Weld Wars

(RED OAK, Texas) - Texas State Technical College's North Texas campus hosted more than 160 high school welding students for the North Texas Weld Wars on Friday, Oct. 11, in Red Oak.

"It is good to expose what we have to offer at the North Texas campus," said Joseph Francia, program team lead for TSTC's Welding Technology program.

The welding competition is part of the Texas High School Welding Series. The event gives students opportunities to improve their employability and technical skills in welding. Students were tested in four American Welding Society -backed certification levels.

"I think today's contest is the smoothest one we have ever had," said Jerrod Crumpton, organizer of the North Texas Weld Wars and a welding teacher at Waxahachie High School. "Overall, I am pleased with the variety of schools that came to see what other students are doing."

Christopher Chevez, an agricultural mechanics teacher at Seagoville High School in Dallas, brought four juniors and seniors to compete. He said his students take part in at least 10 welding events a year, giving them opportunities to work in different welding labs with equipment they may not often see.

"These kids naturally take it seriously," Chevez said. "They have a competitive drive themselves."

Chevez said the students' work reflects on what they have learned in class.

"It's their time to shine, and we (instructors) shine along with them," he said.

Page Bishop, an agricultural mechanics teacher at Red Oak High School, brought six students to the competition. The goal is for as many students as possible to become certified this academic year.

Students in Red Oak's agriculture program begin welding their freshman year, with some taking dual credit classes in TSTC's Welding Technology program.

"I enjoy watching them complete their projects," Bishop said. "At the start time there are some doubts, but at the end they get it done."

Students placing in the top three of each certification level were:

- Level 1 (shielded metal arc welding 2F): Christian Teer and Trenton Johnson, both of Central High School in Pollok, and Alexandre Mitchell, Longview High School

- Level 2 (gas metal arc welding 2F): Michael Beridon, Robinson High School; Joel Rubio, Columbus High School; and Sadie Carrell, Red Oak High School

- Level 3 (shielded metal arc welding 4F): No students placed

- Level 4 (shielded metal arc welding 1G): Edgar Pena and Luis Ortuno, both of Terrell High School, and Fernando Deloera, Marshall Center for Advanced Careers in Houston

Select students will qualify for the Texas High School Welding Series' state contest planned for spring 2025.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

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