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Nineteen University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-Crossett (UAM-CTC) welding students competed at the Arkansas SkillsUSA Conference from April 10 through April 12 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Six UAM-CTC concurrently enrolled high school welding students from Hamburg High School and Crossett High School won medals. Cy Dodson, of Crossett High School, won a gold medal in College Pipe Welding. Ethan McElroy, of Crossett High School, won a gold medal in College Welding Sculpture. Jeffrey Chenos, of Crossett High School, won a gold medal in College Job Skills. Michael Huante, of Hamburg High School, won a silver medal in Secondary Welding Sculpture. Nicholas Aycock, of Hamburg High School, won a bronze medal in College Welding. Trace Jones, of Crossett High School, won a bronze medal in Job Skills.

Jonah Culp (Crossett), Cameron Franks (Hamburg), Micah McCoy (Hamburg) and Brandon Urbina (Crossett) competed in the pipe welding event. Zander Cameron (Hamburg), David Edwards (Crossett) and Jonathan Sivils (Crossett) competed in the welding event. Max Brooks (Crossett) and Sean Daniel (Hamburg) competed in the welding sculpture event. Hunter Carpenter (Hamburg), Caleb Cossey (Hamburg) and Tyler Jacks (Hamburg) competed in the welding fabrication event. Garrett White (Crossett) competed in the job skill event.

Linda Rushing, vice chancellor of UAM-CTC, offered congratulations to the students for their success, stating, “We are so proud of all nineteen students for working hard to develop the skill level required to compete at the SkillsUSA Conference. This was the largest group we had ever taken to a competition. Thank you to the students and Mr. Dubose for his leadership, expertise and care to assure the students were ready for the event. We also extend a big thank you to Hamburg Public Schools, Crossett Public Schools and the Monticello Occupational Education Center. Their support helped make this opportunity available for our welding high school students. It truly was a team effort through a great partnership.”   

Donnie DuBose, welding instructor at UAM-CTC, said, “I am thankful for each student in our welding program, and we will continue to strive for excellence here at UAM-CTC.”

According to its website, ​SkillsUSA “is a national membership association serving high school, college and middle school students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations, and for further education. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.” 

Students who earned gold medals at the Arkansas SkillsUSA Conference are eligible to compete at the National SkillsUSA Conference in Atlanta, GA, from June 19 through June 23.

UAM-CTC offers a Certificate of Proficiency in Welding and a Technical Certificate in Welding Technology. To learn more about these programs, click here or call 870-364-6414.