CHS Welding Team performs well in welding competition
Level 2 Alexander Lopez - 2nd place out of 12 students Level 1 Jose Pineda - Certification Level 2 Carlos Zavala - 8th place out of 12 students
Level 2 Ruben Gutierrez - 2nd place out of 57 students Level 2 Salvador Lagunas - Certification
Students from the Cleveland High School Welding Program attended the Lamar Institute of Technology Welding Certification and Competition event, held Friday, Jan. 15 in Beaumont. Members of the program competed in an array of different events during the welding competition, five students receiving their certifications, meeting AWS (American Welding Society) standards. For the students to compete in the welding competition their weld first had to pass certification per AWS standards then they were judged accordingly.
The Cleveland group competed against students from 14 area high schools at the third annual competition, that focused on different welding types, that students had to show off the skillset they have worked tirelessly for in school.
According to Jim Baxter, the CTE Welding V-101 Instructor, “For the students that compete in these competitions, the training and practice allows them to better their skills associated with different weld processes. At most of these competitions, we have trade schools that are sponsors. For each level, these trade schools give scholarships for students that place in the top three places.”
Cleveland students Ruben Gutierrez and Alexander Lopez both received $1,000 scholarship awards from The Ocean Group Corporation, Nathan Gonzalez took third place honors in the Safety and Tool ID Quiz.
Baxter was very impressed by the overall performance of his students.
“I am extremely satisfied and proud of how each one of my students did at this competition. For level I, I had one student that placed 2nd place and had two students gain there AWS D9.1 welding certification. For level II, one of my students placed 2nd and another student placed 8th place,” he concluded.