'Soar Higher'

According to Enstrom’s press release, the “friendly welding competition” comprised five professional and two high school teams. Competitors had eight hours to weld a sculpture reflecting the theme “Soar Higher” on the NWTC Marinette campus. Enstrom’s team “stayed on-brand” and created a miniature helicopter, which got them second place, trailing just three points behind the first.

The team of four, Ty Miller, Garrett Wolesker, Cole Mylener, and Ken Davis, had a 20-by-20-foot booth furnished with scrap metal, basic welding equipment, and power. The crew brought grinders, ladders, and clamps in their own tool bags.

“A lot of people think, oh, you’re a welder, just glue metal together,” Miller said. “It’s a lot more than that. Every welding technique has a certain art form to it.” He thought that the competition “required tremendous focus and communication to piece everything together within the time limit, but we’re incredibly proud of the results. It’s also great to know that our efforts here today will help empower the next generation of welders.”

The sculptures were judged on artistic design and their aptness for outdoor display. They went up for auction with all proceeds benefiting NWTC. The school netted $6,700 for its scholarship fund.

Cindy Bailey, dean of NWTC’s Marinette campus, said that one of the ideas behind the competition was to show students “how fulfilling a career in the trades can be.” She said that especially the demand for welders is currently higher than the supply.

Enstrom also participated in the STEM fair that accompanied the Welding Rodeo, providing information on career opportunities.

NWTC plans to host another Welding Rodeo next year.