MOLINE, Ill. - A number of area high school students received recognition and cash prizes for their welding skills at the annual Midwest Technical Institute High School Welding Competition Thursday and Friday at the school's Moline campus.
The two-day competition featured more than 70 participants from 17 QCA high schools and career centers, including Moline High School; Clinton High School; Muscatine High School; Kewanee High School; Davenport West and Davenport Central high schools; Mercer County High School; and Whiteside Area Career Center.
Students were tested on a wide range of welding skills and theories, including live welding challenges as well as classroom-based testing. Ten students were recognized in each day of competition for their work with first place winners receiving cash prizes of $500 - second and third place winners received $250 and $100, respectively, and the top ten finalists were awarded commemorative medals for their efforts.
Thursday's first place honors went to Michael Koster of Whiteside Area Career Center, while Steven Comeaux of Davenport West High School took the top prize at Friday's competition. Thursday's top three finishers also included Drew Burger and Sam Wike, also from Whiteside, while Nate Anderson, of Davenport Central High School, and Victor Mendoza, of Davenport West, rounded out Friday's top three students.
Established in 2007, the competition offers high school students more than an opportunity to simply showcase their welding talents. Participants also had the chance to tour the Moline campus, meet with faculty and staff and receive valuable information on how to turn their passion into a lifelong, lucrative career.
MTI's Director of High School Development Eric Gleason believes the competition provides students with a well-rounded look at the skills and work ethic required to be a professional welder.
"The weld competition is designed to allow area high school students to not only showcase their skillset, but also to get a feel for the MTI environment and experience welding at the next level."
The Moline campus offers MTI's Journeyman Welder I and II Program to train students for employment as professional welders in as little as seven months.
For more information on the welding competition, contact the Moline campus at (309) 277-7900. For interview requests and other media inquiries, contact MTI's Director of Marketing at Stacey Wierman at (309) 427-2750, ext. 1228.
