THOMASVILLE- Local high school students competed in a welding competition on Thursday, March 27, 2025, hosted by Southern Regional Technical College and Colquitt County High School and sponsored by Darvin Flowers of Jones Welding and Steve Mattson of Lincoln Electric. Over 50 students participated in the competition in Moultrie to compete against each other for a chance to win the grand prize of a 140 amp GMAW welding machine, a Lincoln welding hood, welding jacket, welding gloves, welding cap, a bag for carrying welding gear, and a $1,000 SRTC scholarship.

The competition aimed to foster healthy competition while highlighting the importance of welding skills in today’s industrial landscape. Participants demonstrated their proficiency in various welding techniques and put their welding skills on display using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process in horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions with E7018 and E6010 electrodes. SRTC welcomed students from Bainbridge High School, Colquitt County High School, Early County High School, Harris County High School, Miller County High School, Mitchell County High School, Pelham High School, Thomas County Central High School, Thomasville High School, Thomson High School, Valdosta High School, and Worth County High School.

The top 10 winners of the competition include first place winner Daniel Pyles from Bainbridge High School, second place winner Tim Watson from Thomas County Central High School, third place winner Colbie Wallace from Valdosta High School, fourth place winner Taden Shroats from Thomas County Central High School, fifth place winner David Gilbert from Harris County High School, sixth place winner Carson Treadwell from Thomson High School, seventh place winner Nathan Henderson from Thomson High School, eighth place winner Benjamin Ard from Colquitt County High School, ninth place winner Calym Gray from Harris County High School, and tenth place winner Jacob Dennard from Harris County High School.

The instructors who mentored these students and prepared them for this competition include Travis Barrett from Thomas County Central High School, Mike Howington from Harris County High School, Charles Schwaner from Mitchell County High School, Espy Smith from Early County High School, Courtney Brinkman from Thomson High School, Michael Warmack from Valdosta High School, Brad Braswell from Pelham High School, Karl Kemper from SRTC/Bainbridge High School/Miller County High School, Myles Foister from Colquitt County High School, Clifton Taylor from SRTC/Thomasville High School, and Jace Tison from Worth County High School.

SRTC was honored to host this event, giving high school students exposure to cutting-edge welding technologies and innovative techniques, and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this industry.

Southern Regional Technical College offers over 150 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get students quickly into their desired careers, and 28 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in eleven counties across Southwest Georgia for the convenience of its students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, interested individuals can log on to www.southernregional.edu or call (888) 205 – 3449.

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