Pike Central welding students participating in the Patoka Valley Vocational Cooperative Welding Technology Program brought home a Fifth Place Team trophy and 1 individual trophy on May 12, 2023, from the 42nd Annual Midwest Team Welding Tournament held at J. Everett Light Career Center.
The team placed fifth out of sixteen teams. Placing third in the G.T.A.W. category was Northeast Dubois senior Gaige Schepers. Also participating for the team were Forest Park senior Anthony Merkley in the F.C.A.W. category, Forest Park senior Gavin Sermersheim in the G.M.A.W. category, Pike Central senior Brayden Blount in the S.M.A.W. category, and Pike Central junior Lucas Taylor in the theory category.
Each team participating in the tournament is comprised of five members. One member of the team competes in a theory category of the contest, which includes a 200 question written test in welding knowledge, math and blueprint reading. The other members of the team participate in one of four welding processes, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (G.T.A.W.), Gas Metal Arc Welding (G.M.A.W.), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (S.M.A.W.), and Flux Core Arc Welding (F.C.A.W.) that are subjected to a guided bend test along with a second weldment from a blueprint. The members' individual scores are combined for the team score.
Scholarship presentations by Ohio Technical College:
- Third place student - $5,000
- Each participating student on the fifth place team - $1,000 scholarship
All students received welding-related door prizes.