Eleven Belle Fourche High School students went to Watertown, SD for the Lake Area Technical College (LATC) Weld Off on December 4th. There were two categories, a Beginner Division and an Advanced Division, there were about 400 students from South Dakota and Minnesota representing 40 high schools. There were just under 300 students in the Beginner Division and about 100 students in the Advanced Division. Belle Fourche High School had five students who scored the highest on the written test part in the competition. With the five way tie they had a drawing and junior Kyle Hendrickson was the winner. LATC gave out the first three positions in both Divisions of the competition and in the Beginner Division sophomore Conner Crowser won 2nd place. There were two other Intro students, and one was in the top 25 and the other top 90 out of almost 300 students. There were 8 advanced students in the competition, and they were all in the top 25 of almost 100 advanced students. All students represented Belle Fourche High School very proudly.
Students left to right: Mason Nehl, Alex Norlin, Soren Kopp, Cortez Rodriguez, Allison Jewett, Kyle Hendrickson, Conner Crowser, Tucker Hughes, Roenn Ruziska, Silas Carson, and Dylan Park.
Sophomore Conner Crowser won 2nd place in the Beginners Division.
Junior Kyle Hendrickson was the winner of the written exam for the Weld Off.
Beginner Division: 1. Landry Coy, Tea High School 2. Conner Crowser, Belle Fourche High School 3. Tucker Wingert, Tea High School
Advanced Division: 1. Evett Lewno, Hamlin High School 2. Shane McDaniels, Hamlin High School (Scholarship Winner) 3. Parker Wilson, Tea High School (Scholarship Winner)
There were only three High Schools represented in the winners Hamlin, Tea, and Belle Fourche High Schools.
While in Watertown we were able to tour the Terex Utilities plant. Where the students were able to see how the fiber glass booms were made. They were able to see all the steps taken to build a boom truck like the one the students are standing by. They also were able to see the design department of the company. The students love the tour!
