Staff Report
On February 18, 2023, the DeKalb County Technology Center (DCTC) Welding Instructor Russell McFall hosted an American Welding Society (AWS) Competition at the DCTC Welding Department. McFall explained the contest was for a $1,000 foundation competition scholarship through the AWS Greater Huntsville Section that a student could use to further their education in welding at any institution of their choosing. The contest was broken up into two categories beginner and advanced. The beginner category is for students in their first year of Tech School. The contestants had to weld a steel project with multiple joint designs using the SMAW process with two different types of rods. The advanced category is for students with one or more years of Tech School. The contestants had to weld a steel project with various Joint designs and multiple positions using the SMAW process with two different rods. The AWS puts on multiple welding competitions each year at different locations nationwide. This competition is a great way to get students involved and show them the benefits of being a part of AWS. Each section across the country has multiple AWS scholarships students can apply for. Competing in foundation competitions is one of many ways a student can earn a scholarship.
McFall said, “I invited eight counties from the northeast region of the state along with one county in TN, and half of them didn’t even respond to my invite, so I would like to thank all instructors and schools who attended the contest, including Marty Bishop from Franklin County High School in TN, Jeremy Johnson from Earnest Pruitt Center of Technology (EPCOT), Brandon Jarrett from Albert P. Brewer Area Vocational (APBAV), and Derek Kuykendall from Cherokee County Technology Center (CCTC).”
McFall added, “I also want to thank our contest judges who took the time out of their busy industry schedules to help with the contest – Scott Boyd, Easton Samples, Josh Traylor, Joseph Bevel, Matt Jones, and Jim Higdon. McFall continued, “I always ensure we have the best competition judges. These guys are highly skilled in different welding processes and have advanced knowledge and experience in fabrication, pipelines, pipefitting, and aerospace applications in the welding industry. Some of them also hold a CWI certification as weld inspectors.”
McFall expressed his appreciation to Jim Thompson, the Chair of the AWS Greater Huntsville Section, along with Zeb Ferguson, who is the 1st Vice Chair and does recruitment with the AWS Greater Huntsville section, for providing all the food for everyone at the contest. McFall said, “We greatly appreciate them.”
DeKalb County Career Tech Supervisor Jonathan Phillips said, “I want to congratulate our DCTC student Ben Smith for winning the advanced category and receiving the AWS foundation competition scholarship. Also, congratulations to our other two DCTC students Thomas Matthews for placing 2nd and Leticia Martin, for placing 3rd in the beginner category. We appreciate AWS of Greater Huntsville’s continued support of our welding program and students. Partnerships with organizations like AWS are essential to the success of our programs.