Two ACC welding students will compete at the Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference June 19-23 in Louisville, Kentucky after placing in the state competition last month.

Bret Sunvision and Robert Feller placed first in individual welding and welding sculpture, respectively.

The students competed against their peers from other community colleges and trade schools in Texas. This is the sixth consecutive year ACC students have won first place in the state individual welding competition. National winners have the opportunity to compete in the World Skills Conference in Russia in 2019.

“It’s a tough competition,” says Troy DeFrates, welding department chair. “They’re tested on various aspects of welding and judged based on accuracy and quality. Our students are smart and work hard to be the very best at their craft.  With the skills they’ve learned, they’ll have no problems finding top-paying welding jobs”

Other ACC student winners were Ben Roark, Kyle Gross, and Thomas Hinkle Jr., who together placed third in team fabrication. Ben Cano placed second in the individual welding competition.

Welding students also competed in the Annual Student Art Show. In the sculpture category, student Jason Crosier won first place and received the Presidents Award for his work, “The Grackle.” Nick Hair received honorable mention for his “Modified Standards.” Hair’s work also received the ACC Art Department Purchase award and will be displayed in the department’s permanent collection.

Tags: competition, nationals, Skills USA, welding, welding technology department