Welders-in-training show their stuff in first student competition

The San Jacinto College Central Campus Welding Technology Program held its first student welding competition Nov. 18.

"We had a wonderful turnout and participation," said Ricardo Luna, welding technology program director. "We have talked about doing something like this for a while, and it came together well. We hope to continue this at least once a year in the future."

Forty-nine students competed across five categories. First-place winners each received Viking 3350 welding helmets donated by Lincoln Electric, and second-place winners earned $50 welding supply vouchers from IWS Gas and Supply of Texas in Pasadena.

Guest judges were Augustine Dickson, specialty welding coordinator at Turn2 Specialty Companies; Keith Minnon, welding dispatch manager at Turn2 Specialty Companies; Tyler Kirkwood, quality control inspector from Turner Industries; and Robert Thompson, independent welding consultant.

"It's important for us not only to show our support of the College and this program but also to show the students we are interested in new labor entering the industry," said Minnon. "We were very impressed with the welds done by these San Jac students, and it was a close call for first place in each category."

First-place winners were:

• Claudio Barron, six-inch pipe, 6G inclined, SMAW
• Daniel Bugarin, four-inch stainless steel pipe, 2G, horizontal gas tungsten arc welding
• Jason Edwards, metal art fabrication
• Juan Flores, open root 3G vertical beveled plate, SMAW
• Carlos Reyes, two-inch pipe, 6G inclined, gas tungsten arc welding

Second-place winners were:

• Alexandra Andrade Ortiz, six-inch pipe, 6G inclined, SMAW
• Logan Byers, four-inch stainless steel pipe, 2G, horizontal gas tungsten arc welding and metal art fabrication
• Ramiro Perret, two-inch pipe, 6G inclined, gas tungsten arc welding
• Pino Pino, open root 3G vertical beveled plate, SMAW

Learn more about the program at sanjac.edu/program/welding-technology.