Casper, Clampet, Huff and Oberreiter place in high school welding competition

[April 26, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Midwest Technical Institute has announced the winners in its high school welding competition on April 20. There were 76 competitors from 23 high schools at the event on MTI's Springfield campus. Winners included four students from Mount Pulaski High School.

Students participating in the sixth annual competition were Armstrong Township High School; Belleview West HS; Brown County HS, Mount Sterling; Capital Area Career Center; Springfield; Edinburg HS; Eisenhower HS, Decatur; Gillespie HS; Hartsburg-Emden HS; Havana HS; Heartland Technical Academy, Decatur; Jacksonville HS; Lincoln Community HS; Livingston Area Career Center, Pontiac; Maroa-Forsyth HS; Monticello HS; Mount Pulaski HS; Nokomis HS; North Greene HS; Rushville-Industry HS; Shelbyville HS; Southwestern HS, Piasa; Warsaw HS; and Williamsville HS.

The competition provided a learning experience for all students involved and gave them a chance to see how their skills compared with those of other students in the area.

The students were given several different pieces of raw metal and a blueprint. They were then asked to produce the project from the blueprint, using their skills in arc, MIG and TIG welding. Students in Division B were also required to take a written exam to demonstrate their knowledge of basic terminology and blueprint reading.

The winners were determined by their competency in the written exam, project assembly, accuracy and overall quality of their welds. The top three winners received a cash prize and a trophy -- first place, $500; second place, $250; and third place, $100. Those placing fourth through 10th received medals.

The judges had a hard time picking winners this year, as the students produced some very well-made projects. This year's winners were:

Division A

• 1st place -- Tim Brelsfoard, Maroa-Forsyth High School

• 2nd place -- Michael Stann, Heartland Technical Academy, Decatur

• 3rd place -- Wade Brewer, Heartland Technical Academy, Decatur

• 4th place -- Bowen Casper, Mount Pulaski High School

• 5th place -- Jeremy Mueller, Capital Area Career Center, Springfield

• 6th place -- Charlie Otta, Heartland Technical Academy, Decatur

• 7th place -- Jordan Bennett, Heartland Technical Academy, Decatur

• 8th place -- Scott Clampet, Mount Pulaski High School

• 9th place -- Nick Keller, Eisenhower High School, Decatur

• 10th place -- Cole Huff, Mount Pulaski High School

Division B

• 1st place -- Austen Nieder, Gillespie High School

• 2nd place -- Graham Cooper, Gillespie High School

• 3rd place -- Josh Jacobs, Gillespie High School

• 4th place -- Wyatt Huls, Warsaw High School

• 5th place -- Andrew Simpson, Southwestern High School, Piasa

• 6th place -- Josh Wolff, Southwestern High School, Piasa

• 7th place -- Jonathan Oberreiter, Mount Pulaski High School

• 8th place -- Jordan Swisher, Central A&M High School

• 9th place -- Bryon Swisher, North Greene High School

• 10th place -- Kyle Edwards, Nokomis High School

MTI's mission for the competition is to encourage high school vocational students to continue to practice and educate themselves in the mechanical trade fields. Often vocational programs are overlooked by other school programs. Through the competition, MTI hopes to show support for local vocational programs and highlight talented students for their hard work and skill.

[Text from file received from Midwest Technical Institute]