Xcel Strategies is hosting its 2nd annual Xcel Welding Competition at Hutchinson Island by Savannah, Georgia. The event aims to connect men and women, 15 to 25 years old with welding careers and to highlight the strength of local businesses, trade schools, and welding opportunities in the Savannah region.
Xcel is a nonprofit that mentors and trains welders who are at risk, abused, neglected, or fatherless, ensuring that they have marketable job skills. By partnering with local companies and giving men real world welding experience for the competition, Xcel makes important connections that may not otherwise be available for them.
Jay Thompson, the founder and CEO of Xcel, shared, “We partner with the courts, schools, churches, other nonprofits and businesses to help young men develop life skills, achieve their goals and get jobs…Welding is one of our fields that we focus on.”
Students Welding Career Path
Jobs Are Waiting for Welding Students
“Unlike the majority of his fellow 2018 Bomber graduates, Mountain Home resident Payton Porter is nearly done with school, his final exams and will be out in the working world before too long. His starting salary will be in the low six figures, which is pretty impressive for an 18-year-old, non-college graduate.
As a senior at Mountain Home High School, Porter took concurrent credit courses at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home in arc welding and tungsten inert gas welding, or TIG.”
Welding Student Already Has a Job Lined Up
“Brayton Davis is a senior at Potterville High School and welding runs in his blood. He said his dad was a pipefitter and he grew up with a welder at home. One day he fired it up and really enjoyed it. He is just months away from graduating high school and he feels ready to enter the adult work world full time thanks to an innovative partnership.”
Welding Schools and Education
Virginia College Unveils 17 Million Welding Wing
In October 19th 2018 the Danville Community College’s had officially opened the newly modernized welding building. The welding students at Danville Community College now have a new place to learn.
Georgia Student Will Compete in Welding Competition
“Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) alumnus Ryan Fincher of Cedartown is one of six finalists selected for the American Welding Society (AWS) U.S. Invitational Weld Trials- part of a four stage process to select the SkillsUSA World Team Welder to represent the nation at the 2019 WorldSkills Completion.”
Kansas Students Learn About Welding Program
“Students at the Miami County campus of Fort Scott Community College are trading in traditional textbooks and notepads for welding torches and power tools.
Two new career-focused programs — construction trades and welding — are highlighting the college’s new emphasis on trade skills, and several Miami County high school students are already taking advantage of the classes, which began Aug. 20 in newly renovated facilities.”
Girls Learn about Welding Careers
“Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) prepares, trains, and places women in careers in the skilled construction, utility, and maintenance trades, helping women achieve economic independence and a secure future for themselves and their families."
Welding Events
FABTECH
Nov 6, 2018 – Nov 8, 2018
North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event heads to Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. The event is expected to cover more than 625,000 net square feet and anticipates over 35,000 attendees and 1,500 exhibiting companies. FABTECH provides a convenient ‘one stop shop’ venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, see the latest industry products and developments, and find the tools to improve productivity, increase profits and discover new solutions to all of your metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing needs.
Welding Gone Wrong
Vancouver Area Fire Blamed on Welding
“An explosive building and equipment fire north of Walnut Grove this afternoon may have been started by welding equipment. Langley Township Fire Deputy Chief Bruce Ferguson says it took about 20 fire fighters to put it out.”
"Crews were responding to a grass fire in Colorado Springs on Friday on the north side of the city. The cause of the fire was originally ruled a “welding” incident and was updated to “illegal hot work during a burn restriction.” No permit was obtained for the welding work and proper hot work precautions were not followed, according to officials."
Welding Supplies on Sale
Drop by Baker’s Gas and Welding for some of the best promotions of the year on Miller Electric and ESAB welders and welding gear. You’ll find big savings by combining the rock bottom prices of Baker’s with the excellent rebate offers. You can also tack on savings with the Baker’s Bucks promotion on select purchases. If you’re looking for a great deal on a welder, plasma cutter, or welding helmet, you won’t be disappointed by the prices and promotions at Baker’s Gas and Welding this month.
