News

S.C. High School Welding Skills Competition

Mar 01, 2022

[West Columbia, SC] - On Friday, February 25, Midlands Technical College hosted its first-ever S.C. High School Welding Skills Competition.

Welding Program Director Caleb Fulwood created the event to generate interest in welding careers. It is one of the most in-demand jobs available in South Carolina and does not require a four-year college degree.

“At MTC, we teach all the fundamentals. Through our programs, someone can come in with no prior experience, and in a matter of months, have the skills they need to fill positions paying $35-$50 per hour,” said Fulwood. “That can go even higher for the best of the best and those who are willing to travel for shutdown work at large facilities.”

Category 1 results
Placement	School	Total Score
1st	Wagener-Salley High School	99
2nd	Lexington Technology Center	97
3rd	Lexington Technology Center	95
4th	Sumter Career and Technology Center	94
5th	Anderson Institute of Technology	93
6th	J Harley Bonds Career Center	92
7th	Swansea High School	91
8th	Woolard Technology Center	91
9th	J Harley Bonds Career Center	89
10th	Sumter Career and Technology Center	88
11th	South Aiken High School	87
12th	Wagener-Salley High School	86
13th	Anderson Institute of Technology	86
14th	Woolard Technology Center	84
15th	Swansea High School	82
16th	South Aiken High School	82
17th	Donaldson Career Center	81
18th	Donaldson Career Center	80
19th	Fairfield Career & Technology Center	79
20th	Lexington #2 Innovation Center	78
21st	Lexington #2 Innovation Center	77

Category 2 results
Placement	School	Total Score
1st	J Harley Bonds Career Center	99
2nd	Lexington Technology Center	96
3rd	Lexington Technology Center	95
4th	Woolard Technology Center	93
5th	J Harley Bonds Career Center	93
6th	Sumter Career and Technology Center	93
7th	Wagener-Salley High School	90
8th	Swansea High School	90
9th	Anderson Institute of Technology	90
10th	Donaldson Career Center	88
11th	South Aiken High School	87
12th	South Aiken High School	84
13th	Anderson Institute of Technology	83
14th	Donaldson Career Center	83
15th	Sumter Career and Technology Center	82
16th	Wagener-Salley High School	82
17th	Swansea High School	80
18th	Fairfield	79

In covering the event, The Columbia Regional Business Report noted that the “American Welding Society estimates the U.S. will need 400,000 welders by 2024 as older welders retired. The average age of a welder is 55, with less than 50% of the country’s welders younger than 35.” Full report: "MTC contest calls attention to benefits of welding as in-demand career."

Local television stations WACH, WLTX and WOLO also featured the event on news programs.

Watch “Midlands Technical College host first-ever high school welding competition” from WLTX News-19.

MTC's welding classes provide a variety of skills to equip students for the shipping, automotive manufacturing and repair, and aerospace industries. Learn more about the Welding certificates and degrees offered:

Welding and Cutting Fundamentals

This 3-semester Certificate provides students with the core skills necessary to become a professional welder. The techniques and competencies developed in this certificate are foundational in starting a welding career. This certificate awards college credit and can be stacked with the Welding Qualifications Certificate and the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Welding Technology.

Welding and Cutting Fundamentals

Welding Qualifications

This 3-semester certificate builds upon the skills developed in the Welding Fundamentals Certificate. It is designed to prepare students for a career as a professional welder. Students will learn advanced processes and techniques while honing their skills. This certificate awards college credit and can be stacked with the Welding Fundamentals Certificate and the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Welding Technology.

Welding Qualifications

Welding Technology

The first college degree in welding available in the state of South Carolina, the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Welding Technology is a 6-semester program that combines the Welding Fundamentals and Qualifications Certificates. This Academic Welding Degree Program is an in-depth training program delivered by a staff of professional welders and AWS Certified Welding Educators and Inspectors. Welders who also hold an Associate degree are more qualified to advance into higher roles within the industry.

Welding Technology

Comprehensive Welder

The Comprehensive Welder Certificate is the culmination of the individual Stick, MIG/Flux Cored, and TIG Welding certificates and prepares the individual to work for a wide range of companies in the manufacturing and construction fields.

Comprehensive Welder

Advanced Welder

The Advanced Welder Program focuses on advanced welding positions and MIG transfer processes. The program is designed for a welding student finishing the Comprehensive Welder Certificate or a welder currently working in the industry and is seeking additional skills to advance their career.

Advanced Welder

MIG and Flux Cored Welder

The MIG and Flux Cored Welder Certificate focuses on the Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) processes. In two, 8-week courses you will learn how to use both processes to weld in all positions.

MIG and Flux Cored Welder

Stick Welder

The Stick Welder Certificate focuses on the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process. In three, 8-week courses you will learn how to fillet, groove, and pipe weld in all positions.

Stick Welder

TIG Welder

The TIG Welder Certificate focuses on the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process. In two, 8-week courses you will learn how to fillet and groove weld flat plate in all positions as well as pipe weld in the 6G position.

TIG Welder

News

S.C. High School Welding Skills Competition

Category 1 results

Category 2 results