Fort Smith Regional Chamber Of Commerce: UAFS Awards $6,000 To Welding Rodeo Winners

Fort Smith AR

05 May, 2022

2:20 PM

Description

Press release from the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce: May 2, 2022 When the dust cleared at the Welding Rodeo on Friday, April 22, three competitors walked away with $6,000 in college scholarships from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. Wyatt McElrath, Dayton Pettycord, and Cory Buckman, all representing Western Yell County High School, snared first, second, and third place honors and $2,000 UAFS scholarships at the annual Welding Rodeo. Dallas Smith from St. Paul High School had the top Written Safety Exam. The 59 students registered for the competition represent 10 school districts and attend the Western Arkansas Technical Center. WATC students, including those studying welding, receive concurrent credit at their high schools and UAFS. They earn certificates of proficiency in trades with good prospects for employment at graduation. Many will go on to complete further education, like the associate degree in welding at UAFS. Students at the rodeo competed in timed arc and MIG welding and took a written exam. Judges were UAFS instructors and Advanced Welding Institute-certified welders. Event sponsors were Abscom, Airgas, Boyd Metals, Hytrol, Lincoln Electric, and Ryerson. In addition to scholarships, prizes like welding hoods, torch sets, and grinders were awarded. This press release was produced by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author's own.