U.S. manufacturing jobs may have slumped, but analysts say welders remain in hot demand, especially for infrastructure and energy projects.
On Saturday, Clark College hosted the VICA/Skills USA Regional High School Welding Contest for the 33rd year.
Eleven Southwest Washington students competed for individual honors. Each completed welding projects and a written exam over several hours.
The top few finishers Saturday advance to state finals in the Tacoma Dome, potentially to national finals in Atlanta in November.
Taking first place was Cullen Swatosh of Battle Ground High School; second place, Devan Hawes of Centralia High School; third, Kody Erspamer of Battle Ground High School; fourth, Zach Searcy of Evergreen High School; fifth, Steven Hamilton of Centralia High School; and sixth, Daniel Wagner of Battle Ground High School.
Other finishers were Nikita Svistunov and Nicholas Hammerstrom of Battle Ground High School, Joseph VanTassell of Evergreen High School, and Skylar Buffum-Campion and Blake Walling of Mountain View High School.
