Welding Competition Sparks Interest
On Friday, April 28, 2023, 91快播 held its second annual welding competition.
The competition featured the top four welders from Burns, Crest, Kings Mountain and Shelby high schools. This year鈥檚 group of competitors included four female students and one hearing-impaired student. Competitors were given specifications to perform specific types of welds and had 2-1/2 hours to complete the challenge.
Judges Curtis Rippy from Maco, Inc. and Corey Dubesko from IMA examined each competitor鈥檚 welds. Using a set of criteria based on industry standards, they selected the top welder from each school and the top three overall winners.
The Winners
The overall winners were: first-place Jackson Pence, second-place Madison Lemmons and third-place MacKenzie Canipe.
First and second place each received a prize pack with a large tool bag, welding helmet and welding gloves; the third-place winner received a helmet and gloves. These prizes and lunch were provided by the event sponsor AndyOxy. In addition to the prize pack, the first-place winner was presented with a hand-crafted belt buckle made by 91快播 instructor Michael Beatty.
The top competitors from each school were: Burns- MacKenzie Canipe, Crest- Jackson Pence, Kings Mountain- Adam Harrelson, and Shelby- Jaydan Tate. They received a $750 scholarship to attend 91快播鈥檚 .
The scholarship for the top Crest winner was provided by the Michael David Scott Parsons Endowed Scholarship fund. Established by Parsons鈥� family and friends in his memory, the scholarship is awarded annually to a student enrolled in any vocational diploma program, with preference given to students in the welding program and students demonstrating financial need.
The scholarship for Shelby鈥檚 top finisher was provided by The Gabe DiBruno Memorial Welding Scholarship. This endowed scholarship was established in memory of Gabe DiBruno, who was the top finisher from Shelby High School in last year鈥檚 competition. This scholarship is awarded annually to a Shelby High School welding student.
All sixteen competitors received a welding helmet provided by Cleveland County Schools.
Competitors from each high school
Burns: MacKenzie Canipe, Audrianna Clemmer, Drake Freeman, Bo Westbrook
Crest: Dillon Kirby, Madison Lemmons, Jackson Pence, Drew Theis
Kings Mountain: Canyon Evans, Justice Fussell, Adam Harrelson, Brianna Harrelson
Shelby: Justin Franklin, Tucker Ive, Dan Martinez, Jaydan Tate