Weld for Work Competition a Success at Pioneer Tech
Team Radio Marketing Group - June 6, 2017 8:56 am
MJ&H Fabrication in Ponca City and Pioneer Technology Center teamed up to launch the first annual Weld for Work Competition in May. This competition aligned newly graduated Pioneer Tech welders with jobs available in their district.
PTC students competed in a two-day event testing their welding ability and fabrication skills. MJ&H put together a unique welding talent challenge for the students. They focused on three areas: a written test concentrating on pipe fitting; a fit-up test which also included reading the blue prints; then welding the entire unit together.
The top three Weld for Work competitors were guaranteed a full-time welding position at MJ&H Fabrication.
Gary Harvey, owner of MJ&H said, “This competition lets the students have an advantage in knowing what to expect when they get to work right after graduation.”
One of the sponsors of the competition, S&K Direct Steel, donated a Lincoln Electric MP-210 Multi-Process Mig/Tig/Stick Welding machine and three Lincoln Electric Auto-Darkening helmets for this competition. Other sponsors included Osage Feed & Tack, McVay’s Workwear, Ponca Auto World, Burns McDonnell, Bob Hurley, IPS, Legacy Signs and PCDA.
“It’s great to see a company taking advantage of the career tech programs and engaging students in competition which will improve their skills with real life situations,” said Laurence Beliel, Business Retention & Expansion Director for Ponca City Development Authority. “More companies need to be doing this type of student/industry competition which aligns qualified, skilled students with job opportunities in the Ponca City area. Career Tech creates the workforce of the future and kudos to MJ&H for creating an opportunity to recruit skilled workforce from these programs.”
Winners for the competition were, first place, Jonathan Ruiz-Lopez from Ponca City; second place, Lane Ramsey from Newkirk, and third place, Ross Flood from Ponca City.
All the students accepted the full-time job offered to them. Flood enthusiastically said, “I got a welding hood today and a job!”
Pioneer Tech and MJ&H plan to make this an annual event.
Ted Rowe, welding instructor, said, “This is a wonderful competition; the students were really excited about it. They are learning that getting a job isn’t just about being in a weld booth and running a weld.”
Harvey, MJ&H owner and president, has served on the Welding Program Advisory Board for the last 15 years and has employed many Pioneer Tech graduates. Harvey reiterated that he appreciates the basic knowledge that PTC graduates receive because he can turn them into the kind of welder he needs for his business.
For more information on the event or the Welding Program, contact Pioneer Technology Center at www.pioneertech.edu or call (580) 762-8336.
MJ&H Fabrication in Ponca City and Pioneer Technology Center teamed up to launch the first annual Weld for Work Competition, May 9th and 10th. This competition aligned newly graduated Pioneer Tech welders with jobs available in their district. Pictured from left are Whitney Anthony, Office/Marketing Manager MJ&H; Owen Smith, Engineering Manager at MJ&H; Bruce DeMuth, Superintendent CEO of Pioneer Technology Center; Jared Cartlidge, Quality Assurance Quality Control Manager at MJ&H; Gary Harvey, President/Owner of MJ&H and Ted Rowe, welding instructor at PTC.
