KELSO, Wash. — Sparks were flying at Kelso High School on January 31. Thirty-two students from 12 southwest Washington high schools put their skills to the test at the Regional SkillsUSA Welding Competition.
“If some of these kids, even if a handful of them want to go into the industry, they need to know what the expectation is in the field. Not just the classroom. So it really helps them there,” said Steve Mahitka, a CTE welding instructor at Kelso High School.
“So many kids are willing to put themselves out there because it's nerve-racking going against your peers,” he said. “And it's a skillset that most kids aren't raised with in today's age.”
Students completed four exercises and were judged on their technique by industry experts. Jessica Moore was one of the judges, she teaches in the Department of Industrial Technology at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington.
“I am not looking for perfection,” Moore said. “I am looking for something decently close, that has skills that are obviously either worked on, can be improved, or beginning skills.”
What impresses her the most about the work coming from high schoolers?
“That it's coming from high schoolers,” she said with a smile. “Just the principal aspect that the trade is still living strong with our youth is so beautiful to see.”
Many of the student competitors have only been welding for a year or two. “I always wanted to get into it, but I never really had the opportunity until I came here. So I found the right people to give me the opportunity and I kind of took advantage of that as best I could,” said Leon Le, a senior at Kelso High School.
Ridgefield High School sophomore Chloe Anderson likes almost everything about welding.
“I don't like welding really thin metal, for me it's more difficult,” she said. “I like the thicker metals that are harder to melt … it's easier and I get to take more time doing it.”
Carter Huff & Tucker Salisbury from Kelso High School and Steven Jacka from Evergreen High School finished in the top three, respectively. Each advances to the state-level competition later this year.
Mahitka sees a bright future for these students, with potential infrastructure projects like the I-5 bridge on the horizon. “That's what we need,” he said. “We need kids that want to come back and live here and have good paying jobs that are going to produce for a family and in a community.”
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
- Battle Ground
- Cascadia Technical Academy
- Centralia
- Evergreen
- Fort Vancouver
- Ilwaco
- Kalama
- Kelso
- Napavine
- Prairie
- Ridgefield
- Washougal
EVENT SPONSORS
- Air Gas
- Central Welding
- United Association Local 26