MITCHELL — The Welding and Manufacturing Technology department at Mitchell Technical College will host its 10th annual high school welding competition Friday, March 24.
Seventy-five students from 15 high schools are competing in knowledge and visual tests online prior to the competition. Students with the top 10 combined knowledge exam and visual weld scores will compete in the tensile strength test at the event.
“This event is intended for the students who would like to take a glimpse at manufacturing employment opportunities to them. Obviously, one opportunity is welding and manufacturing- related experiences,” said Travis Peterson, director of the Welding and Manufacturing Technologies program.
The competition will open at 7:45 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Winners will be presented with thousands of dollars of trade-specific prizes. In the past, these have included scholarships in excess of $5,000 and welding machines.
Representatives of welding and manufacturing employers from the area will judge the competition and interact with students throughout the day.
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“Our advisory board members can come in and have an opportunity to visit with high schoolers who want to continue on with their skill development beyond high school and even give them opportunities before they graduate,” Peterson said.
The event is an opportunity, too, to showcase what Mitchell Tech has to offer to those with welding and manufacturing aspirations.
“It’s exposure for the welding program at Mitchell Technical College and giving students a little insight on the…diversity for skill development that they can get here,” Peterson said.
“The manufacturing program offers skill development like no other in the surrounding area. Specifically, AWS welder certifications and nondestructive testing methods in ultrasound, X-ray and magnetic particle. Students also are taught and die penetrant and machining techniques, earn robotic welding certification, and take economic costing, drafting and code classes.”
Mitchell Technical College was founded in 1968.
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