2025 WELDING COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
April 11, 2025
Registration Opens: September 9, 2024 at midnight
Registration Deadline: March 31, 2025 at 5:00pm
Calling all students who have a growing passion for welding and the drive to become of the industry’s elite! 2025 high school seniors are invited to participate in Arkansas Elite Welding Academy’s annual scholarship competition. For questions or for more information, call or text Hunter Sherman at 501-556-7577 or email him at [email protected].
Registration must be completed online, and students should only register ONE time. There is a $25 materials fee for each participant paid at time of registration. Upon registration, a packet will be mailed with information on how to select a competition coupon. Competition coupons must be chosen by March 31, 2025 at 5:00pm. If a participant does not choose a coupon, one will be assigned by Arkansas Elite Coupons cannot be changed after March 31, 2025.
All participants receive a $500 tuition scholarship. Top tuition scholarships will be awarded for top welders for both the pipe coupon and the structural coupon.
SCHEDULE
ROUND 1
-
Sign in:
8:00am – 8:45am -
Competition:
9:00am – 10:15am
ROUND 2
-
Sign in:
Before 10:00am -
Competition:
10:45am – 12:00pm
LUNCH
- 12:00pm - 1:00pm
ROUND 3
-
Sign in:
Before 1:00pm -
Competition:
1:15pm - 2:30pm
*AWARDS TO FOLLOW at approximately 3:30pm
COMPETITION RULES
Competitors must be 2025 high school seniors.
Competitors can compete one time only and will choose a Structural Coupon OR a Pipe Coupon.
Competitors shall wear all mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). See list below.
Only hand tools will be allowed. No electric, pneumatic, or rotating equipment.
Competitors will be given 1 hour to complete the weld test coupon, including practice time.
Once welding on the coupon has started, no further help is allowed.
When weld is complete, an instructor will take the test coupon to the judging area where it will be visual tested by CWIs (Certified Welding Inspectors). No one other than judges and Arkansas Elite instructors are allowed in the judging area.
Competitors will not have access to their weld test coupon after they turn it in for judging. No weld test coupons can leave the judging area.
Judges
Each weld will be scored by a panel of judges, including three Certified Welding Inspectors (CWI) certified through the American Welding Society. Competitors must make a valid attempt to complete the competition weld according to the coupon blueprint provided to be eligible for a scholarship. Competition day instructions, schedule, and coupon blueprint are available here:
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AND TOOLS
Competitors should wear and bring the following:
- Leather work boots
- Cotton or FR jeans/pants free of holes, rips, and/or tears
- Cotton or FR long sleeve welding shirt free of holes, rips, and/or tears
- Welding Hood
- Leather Welding Gloves
The following tools and/or PPE are required. If a competitor does not have these items, they can be borrowed from the Arkansas Elite tool room on competition day:
- Safety Glasses
- Ear Plugs
- Chipping Hammer
- Wire Hand Brush
Time & Location
The competition will be held at:
Arkansas Elite Welding Academy
333 Rosebud Road
Quitman, AR 72131
Round 1
- Sign In: 8:30am – 9:00am
- Competition Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Round 2
- Sign In: 9:45am – 10:15am
- Competition Time: 10:15am – 11:15am
Round 3
- Sign In: 11:45am – 12:15pm
- Competition Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
Round 4
- Sign In: 1:00pm – 1:30pm
- Competition Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Awards ceremony to follow at approximately 3:00pm.