Eveleth, MINN- Minnesota North College’s Welding program students recently completed a successful welding competition through SkillsUSA Championships including being awarded a Gold Medal for their Chapter Display. The SkillsUSA Championships are career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.

Through an investment from business and industry partners of approximately $36 million, the event occupies a space equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres. In 2022, there were more nearly 5,200 contestants in 108 separate events. Nearly 2,000 judges and contest organizers from labor and management make the national event possible.

The philosophy of the Championships is to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and to keep training relevant to employers’ needs.

Minnesota North College’s Welding students results as follows:

Chapter Display
Gold Medal
Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range, Eveleth
Cole Buatala
Ryan Nick
Ellena Carlson

Welding Fabrication
Bronze Medal
Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range, Eveleth
Christopher Myhre
Scott Johnson
Chase Saari

Welding Sculpture in College/Postsecondary
Silver Medal
Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range, Eveleth
David Litchtl
Bronze Medal
Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range, Eveleth
Lola Barber

Congratulations to all of the students, faculty, and staff associated with the welding program on this very successful showing at the SkillsUSA Championships!