Annapolis Junction, Md. – Victor®, an ESAB brand, today announced winners in its Rulers of the Flame oxy-fuel student contest. Students from a total of six schools participated in two categories — either a team fabrication project or an essay competition — centered on the Rulers of the Flame contest theme.
The individual winners are Joshua Doyle from Springfield Clark Career Technology Center, Springfield, Ohio (instructor Brian Sheward); Kyle Hiener from Oxarc Welding School, Spokane, Wash. (instructor Andrew Delateur) and Elizabeth Chaney from Carroll County Career & Technology Center, Westminster, Md. (instructor Michael Schweinsberg).
Winning students described how oxy-fuel processes (cutting, heating, welding, brazing) and working with oxy-fuel equipment has shaped their character, affected their daily lives or the lives of others, influenced something they’re passionate about and will empower their future careers.
The team winners hail from Iron Workers 40 & 361 Training Center, Astoria, N.Y. (students Sandy Matos, Anthony Larkin, Anastasiya Grishkevich and Mark Thomas); Rockland BOCES, West Nyack, N.Y. (students Thomas McKenna, Tyler Moore, Kevin Onderdonk, Robert Shields and Robert Himelfarb) and Ogden-Weber Technical College, Ogden, Utah (students Darby McClelland, Michael Oakes, Colby Marker and Christopher Oakes).
Winning projects were, respectively, a “stairway to success” inspired by artist M.C. Escher’s famous Relativity staircase cut into a twisted I-beam, King of the Mountain, appropriately named for an impressive off-road truck climbing an I-beam mountain and The Fire Pit, an elaborate hexagonal show of flames. Details on winning submissions may be viewed here (insert link when ready).
Each winning team member and individual essay winner member took home a $250 cash prize in addition to a Victor Medalist 350 Outfit, while each school associated with the winners received a cutting and welding package valued at more than $8,400:
Founded in 1913, Victor is the world’s leading brand of oxy-fuel and gas flow control and regulation equipment, which is used by millions of skilled tradespeople in metal fabrication, construction, maintenance, and other industries every day.
“Victor continues to partner with schools and industry to promote technical education and careers. The critical role they play cannot be overstated,” says Bill Wehrman, Global/North American Marketing Communications at ESAB. “The Rulers of the Flame student contest encourages students to realize the benefits of technical education, acquire skills that lead to good careers, and foster the sense of pride craftspeople feel for a job well done.”
No matter the contest category, all the winners expressed a passion for welding and a newfound understanding of the oxy-fuel process.
“I didn’t write the essay to win. I wanted to write what I felt so you could understand how passionate I am about this industry and the oxy-fuel process,” says Joshua Doyle (Springfield Clark Career Technology Center). “I didn’t even know there was a $250 prize when I wrote the essay.”
“I’ve really gotten a good taste for old-school oxy-acetylene welding,” says Christopher Oakes (Ogden-Weber). “I think it’s similar to TIG but requires more patience. “It’s a fun process that really keeps you at the moment.”
For others, it was all about teamwork. “Oxy-acetylene was new for me, and I really enjoyed it, but the initial planning, coming together and brainstorming was really cool,” says Marker, Oakes teammate. “Once we agreed on everything and got the flames all ready to go, it was great.”
Oakes adds, “There’s a saying, ‘Teamwork makes the dream work.” That’s what we’re about.”
“We salute the contest winners for their ability, innovation, and initiative, as well as thank the instructors who create a rich technical learning environment,” says Wehrman.
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