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Top high school welders put their skills to the test during the First Brandon Blackford Memorial Welding Competition hosted by the Olney Central College Welding Program.
Fourteen students from Richland County, Fairfield Community, Red Hill, Newton Community, Edwards County and Hutsonville high schools competed for scholarships and prizes during the event held at the West Richland Center in Noble.
First-place finisher Jackson Martin, of Newton, won a $350 scholarship, a Lincoln V350 Pro Welder and a helmet. Second-place winner Tyler Dowty and third-place winner Jacob Taylor, both of Olney, received $100 and $50 scholarships, respectively. They also won Lincoln V300 Invertec welders and helmets.
“I felt the competition was a huge success,” said Welding Instructor Curtis Marshall, who organized the event with Welding Specialist Maverick Fisher. “The turnout was great. I received many comments on how professional the students acted and conducted themselves in a safe manner in the shop. I want to thank all the students that came out and showcased their welding skills, even though this might have been their first time taking a structural test like this. I know everyone benefitted from the experience.”
Contractors frequently have prospective employees complete similar welding tests and then check the quality of the welds by conducting visual inspections and stress testing, Marshall said. The competition judges, retired OCC Welding Instructor Russ Jausel and program graduate Ethan Cole, applied the same criteria.
“We conducted the competition testing the same as contractors would for employment for a job,” Marshall added. “I’m glad the students were able to be a part of weld testing that will be identical to the testing they will undergo for a job. Also being in a timed environment where you only have one hour to compete a test allows the students to be under the gun just like they are when they take a weld test for employment. This should help with any nervousness that anyone getting into the trade will experience when going out for their first professional welding test. Hopefully, this will give the students more confidence when it’s time for them to take a test for employment.”
The event also enabled the OCC Welding Program to showcase the new welding lab and equipment at the West Richland Center.
“Many members of the community that are involved in the welding trades commented on how the lab resembled testing facilities they have taken tests in,” Marshall said. “Everyone I talked to was very impressed on how the old Noble High School had transformed into what it is today.”
The event is named and scholarship funds given in honor of 2014 graduate Brandon Blackford who completed the Industrial Maintenance Technology Program. Blackford’s father is also an OCC alum having earned an associate degree in welding in 1987.
The scholarship fund was established in 2015 to aid Richland County High School students entering the IMT or Welding programs. This year Brandon’s mother, Kate, reached out to Marshall and IMT Instructor Logan Marshall in an effort to extend the scholarship to students outside Richland County.
“Our goal is to help any student entering into either of these programs regardless of what school they are coming from,” Kate said. “I was so proud of the participants in the welding competition. They put their heart and soul into it just like Brandon would have.”
Kate said fundraisers are held each year to continue the scholarship award.
“The monies are made possible from the ongoing support of Brandon’s family and friends,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without them. We also make donations locally to other organizations including the animal shelter and Angel of Hope Garden.”
Marshall and Fisher plan to make the competition an annual event.
“This is something I want to continue,” Marshall said. “We are also going to try and have another welding contest prior to the Brandon Blackford Memorial Competition to give students a better understanding of how the test will be conducted for the main event.”
