PTC student takes top prize in third annual Weld for Work competition

Winners, from left, were first place, Colton Orr (Ponca City); second place, Isac Urban (Tonkawa); third place, Alberto Bojorquez (Blackwell); fourth place, Brayan Hernandez with Autry Tech and Noah Peaster from Meridian Tech.

Pioneer Technology Center,  along with MJ&H Fabrication and Mertz, teamed up this month for the third annnual Weld for Work competition, which aligns newly graduated welders with area employment opportunities.

This year’s first place winner was Colton Orr from Ponca City. Other winners included second place; Isac Urban from Tonkawa; third place, Alberto Bojorquez from Blackwell; fourth place Brayan Hernandez with Autry Tech and Noah Peaster from Meridian Tech.

The top four contestants are guaranteed employment at MJ&H and Mertz.

Sponsors for the event included  MJ&H, Mertz Manufacturing, Airgas, Ponca City Development Authority, Lampton, Legacy Signs, Boss Custom Tees and IPS (Industrial Piping Specialists). Each student winner took home prizes donated by these companies, Airgas being the largest sponsor. The top winner received $1,500 in prizes.

Traci Thorpe, Superintendent/CEO of Pioneer Technology, said “Pioneer Tech’s mission is to create the workforce of the future and we are grateful industry partners can recruit skilled students from this event. It’s exactly what we ought to be doing.  Adding Meridian and Autry to the mix this year just made it that much better.”

For more information on the event or if your company would like to have a competition in the future with one of Pioneer Tech’s programs, call 762-8336 or visit www.pioneertech.edu.