ESAB Announces Winners of Student Welding and Cutting Contest
Winners of “A Cut Above” prizes described how cutting and welding have influenced their lives.
Posted: April 25, 2016
ESAB (Florence, SC) has announced the six winners of its 2015 “A Cut Above” contest for students in welding and cutting programs at secondary and post-secondary schools. Three individual winners won a $250 cash prize for their winning essays — describing how cutting and welding have influenced their lives. In addition, each member of three winning teams will receive $500 for their submission of a metal fabrication project that incorporates both welding and cutting.
All schools associated with the winners also won a cutting, welding and gas control package valued at $4,000. Products in the package included an ESAB Migmaster® 215 Pro Ready-to-Weld Package, a Victor® Medalist 250 Medium Duty Cutting System, a Thermal Dynamics® Cutmaster® 42 Air Plasma Cutting Outfit and two ESAB Aristo® Tech HD high definition welding helmets.
The 2015 individual winners were Adele Tantalo, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Newbern, TN (instructor James Daniels); Roxanne Desrosiers, SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary, AB (instructor Tim Richardson); and Carly Loving, McMinnville High School, McMinnville, OR (instructor Chip Ford). The 2015 team winners were Bobby Wallace, Eve Torres, Braden King, Daniel Teniente and Andy Ochoa, Denton LaGrone AdvancedTechnology Complex, Denton, TX (instructor Rebecca Hendricks); Austin Erickson, Sam Moore, Pedro Rosario and Jamison Dimeco, Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough, MA (instructor Chris Wittmier); and Mitchell Cutsforth, Chris Smith, Nic Ostrander and Andrew Meyer, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI (instructor David Murray).
Winning student Adele Tantalo wrote that welding helped her learn patience by forcing her to slow down and focus on what was in front of her. “I started to see the progress I was making by slowing down and allowing myself to make mistakes,” says Tantalo. “I saw that every failed test plate was a learning opportunity.”
Tantalo, for whom addiction was a former way of life, welcomes the renewed sense of direction welding brings to her world. “Welding has given me a sense of purpose and direction in my life,” she says. “I have found peace and contentment in my welding booth. To me, each bead I run further cements the bonds of my sobriety and my future career in the welding field.”
Individual winner Carly Loving plans to apply her welding skills and knowledge to a structural engineering position. “Structural engineers design the buildings, bridges, or houses that welders, along with other construction workers, actually build,” stated Loving. “I know learning how to weld will make me a better engineer.”
Roxanne Desrosiers writes about feeling inspired — not discouraged — by unsupportive friends who told her that welding “is a man’s job” and that she “won’t be as good as them.” She responded by working harder. “These comments drove me to prove them wrong, and I did,” says Desrosiers. “I worked hard, harder than most, and my hard work was recognized by my instructor Barry Gordy. I was rewarded with the first of my scholarships.”
Group winners submitted well-documented projects that included equipment, materials, photos, assembly steps and more. The Ferris State team helped to erect a 35-foot bell tower that represents three local churches joining together to become one stronger congregation. Winners from Denton LaGrone ATC constructed a set of eight benches, each representing different ATC departments, to seat a class of 24 students outdoors. Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School Students chose to build a bulldozer to represent Victor’s legacy in building and maintaining heavy equipment in the construction and mining trades. Their project statement confirms their commitment to Victor cutting equipment: “When you think of cutting, you think of a Victor torch.”
Bill Wehrman, the global marketing communications manager of ESAB, says that, “We salute all the contest winners for their ability, innovation and initiative to go ‘a cut above’ the average student. We also salute instructors everywhere who create a rich learning environment so students can prosper.” The company plans to continue the “A Cut Above” student contest in 2016, with details to be announced in the coming months.
ESAB, established in 1904, is a recognized leader in the welding and cutting industry. From time-honored processes in welding and cutting to revolutionary technologies in mechanized cutting and automation, their welding consumables, equipment, and accessories bring solutions to customers around the globe. Founded in 1913, Victor is a world leader in cutting and gas control solutions. Tweco is a leader in MIG welding guns, consumable parts for both semi-automatic and precision robotic welding applications, and in manual welding products.
The joining of ESAB and Victor brings together the leading brands of ESAB, Victor, Tweco, Stoody and Arcair, to provide the broadest range of welding and cutting solutions from one company.
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