ACC Hosts First Welding Showdown
ACC hosted the first Gulf Coast Community College Welding Showdown on November 4 which included students from seven colleges including ACC, Houston Community College, Wharton Junior College, College of the Mainland, Western Texas College, Texas State Technical College and Brazosport College.
“I feel like the turnout was great and I’m already looking forward to next year’s showdown,” said Leroy Brigman, ACC Welding coordinator.
Brigman said the competition was an idea that he Western Texas College Welding instructor Jeff Stewart first began talking about a few months ago. Jeff Stewart helped Leroy get his pipeline career started after meeting in 2013. Both were glad to see the event come to life and provide students a chance to showcase their skills while also networking with their peers, Brigman said.
“We had 42 competitors from seven different college,” he said. “We had more than 100 people at the event.”
ACC students took third place in Tig/Stick, second place in the tig on pipe, the downhill pipe and the uphill stick on plate, and had a student on the first place sculpture team.
“As a team, I think we did extremely well this year,” Brigman said.
In addition to the schools competing in the showdown, Brigman credited sponsors Pipeliners Cloud and Alltex Welding, and the ACC Foundation for making the event possible for students to learn about job opportunities while also meeting with those working in the field. Food was also provided for the competitors from Kenjo's BBQ, Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stalman, Patrol Sgt. Jason Ringo and deputy Jay Burridge. Judges included Certified Welding Inspectors and construction managers Dee Win, Mark Thompson and Bud Womack.
Winners
5G - 8" Pipe Tig competition
1st College of the Mainland Jordan Swisher
2nd Alvin Community College Jennifer Havis
3rd Texas State Technical College Hector Guzman
6G COMBO-2"XXH Pipe- TIG/STICK
1st Texas State Technical College - Diego Perez
2nd Brazosport College - Edgar Delacruz
3rd Alvin Community College - Andres Nino
5G - 12" DOWNHILL Pipe
1st Western Texas College - Samuel Hernandez
2nd Alvin Community College - Jonathan Gonzalez
3rd Texas State Technical College - Jack Bowman
4G "Overhead" PLATE - MIG/FLUX
1st Western Texas College - Patricio Araya Bustamante
2nd Houston Community College - Mario Zavala
3rd Texas State Technical College - Olivia Garcia
3G "Uphill" PLATE – TIG
1st Texas State Technical College - Zitlaly Rangel
2nd Brazosport College - Victoria Newman
3rd Wharton County Junior College - Angel Vasquez
3G "Uphill" PLATE - Stick
1st Wharton County Junior College - Jakorie Taylor
2nd Alvin Community College - Cody Deaton
3rd Brazosport College - Eli Davis