Pima Community College to Host Welding Competition
January 30, 2012
Tucson, AZ -- Pima Community College will host the SkillsUSA high school welding competition on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Downtown Campus.
“The competition helps students build self-confidence and show off their hard-earned skills,” said Ken Bice, chairman of PCC’s Machine Tool Welding program. “It’s also a great opportunity for Pima to showcase its state-of-the-art learning facilities,”
The College is expecting five students from four different local schools to compete. Several other high school students will observe.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. The organization has 13,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations.
PCC offers an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Welding and Fabrication. Currently, there are about 150 students are enrolled in the program.
According to the American Welding Society, a national shortage of welders means that job prospects for welders are excellent. More than 200,000 new and replacement welders will be needed by 2019.
For the competition, competitors receive contest drawings and a set of welding procedure specifications. All drawings, welding symbols, and welding terms conform to the latest edition of the American Welding Society standards.
Contestants are tested on various aspects of welding: they are required to weld on five different joint designs, in multiple positions, using two different electrodes in the shielded metal arc welding process.
- What: SkillsUSA High School Welding Competition
- Where: Downtown Campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave., Science & Technology building, room170
- When: Registration at 8 a.m., competition at 9 a.m.
CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu