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Welding Students Place in Top at Annual Welding Competition
Welding Students Represent HGTC at South Carolina Technical College Welding Competition.
(left to right) Rob Mullane, Brandon Bandel, Chandler Miller, Chase Haydt, and Holden Williams.
Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) is proud to announce welding students were successful at the 2023 South Carolina Technical College (SCTC) Welding Competition at Spartanburg Community College April 20 and 21. HGTC Department Chair, Jeff Ball, and Welding Instructors, Jacob Satterfield, Jay Owens and Ivan Johnson accompanied five (5) top welding students, including Rob Mullane, Brandon Bandel, Chandler Miller, Chase Haydt and Holden Williams.
“As welding instructors, we could not be prouder of our students, especially since they were only in their 2nd semester of instruction at the time of the competition. Two of our students, Holden Williams and Chase Haydt, are Technical Scholars in local high schools. In addition, this was the first time an HGTC welding student competed in category 1, and Rob Mullane finished strong,” said Jacob Satterfield, HGTC Welding Instructor.
HGTC students placed in the top three (3) in two (2) categories.
SC Technical College Annual Skills Competition Winners
April 20 & 21, 2023
- Rob Mullane finished in 2nd place for Category 1.
- Brandon Bandel finished in 5th place for Category 2.
- Chandler Miller finished in 4th place for Category 3.
- Chase Haydt finished in 4th place for Category 4.
- Holden Williams finished in 3rd place for Category 5.
Welding plays a critical role in the strength and durability of everything from cars to heavy industrial machinery to bridges. HGTC's Advanced Welding Certificate provides students entry level training and practical skills in Oxy-Acetylene cutting and brazing, SMAW (Arc), GMAW (MIG), FCAW (Flux Core) and GTAW (TIG) in ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including purge welding of sanitary process pipe.
In addition to preparing students for American Welding Society (AWS) welder performance certifications, students will also learn shop and site safety practices, blueprint reading, principles of metallurgy, construction math, hand and power tool usage and basic layout techniques used in the fabrication industry. Because of high demand, good earning potential, and a shortage of workers, welding is an excellent choice for those with an interest in a hands-on career.
Employment opportunities can be found in the following fields:
- Welders, cutters, welder fitters
- Solderers and brazers
- Welding machine setters, operators, and tenders
Employers of HGTC Alumni Include:
- Ballard Iron
- Venters Welding
- Saferack Manufacturing
- Envirosep