The PHS Welding Team took 14 welding students to the area’s Top of Texas CTE Competition at Amarillo College East Campus amongst 250 other welding students and performed as seasoned professionals with decades of experience already under their belts.
Our Pampa Harvesters took home 5 top individual Awards:
• 1st Place Advanced SMAW, Mason Childress, Senior
• 2nd Place Advanced SMAW, Alejandro Alvarez, Senior
• 3rd Place Advanced SMAW, Jake Martinez, Senior
• 2nd Place Advanced MIG, Martin Farias, Junior
• 3rd Place Intermediate SMAW, Imanol Flores, Junior
This Harvester Team shut out all others by taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd Placings in Stick Welding, a remarkable achievement in my opinion.
It was by no means an easy contest; all of these young men had multiple last-minute hurdles to overcome and all I could do was stand there and watch while cheering them on.
This team was shown the specifications of their welding procedures only minutes before they were allowed to walk into their welding booth to perform.
They had to quickly interpret then process the information as to what was required in a shop they had not ever practiced in before with the materials and supplies they were handed.
To the surprise of everyone present an announcement was made of a new rule for a 30 minute time limit to be enforced this year that now added another layer of pressure to the stress of new Weld Test.
To say these young men handled it would be an understatement.
I cannot even articulate how very proud I am of this team, unbelievable last 2 days.
