1st through 5th place winners from left to right: Brett Michaud, Jessica Milks, Sean Conery, Brent Huse, Drew Erickson. Then Brian Mitchell of BOSS, Jay Jezylo, Welding Instructor at Dickinson-Iron Tech Center.
KINGSFORD -- More than 30 high school students from seven high schools traveled to Kingsford on Friday, March 23 to put their welding skills to the test. The competition is a collaboration between BOSS Products and the Dickinson-Iron Tech Center. BOSS specializes in snow and ice removal. They are best known for manufacturing "V" plows.
A simple slip up on a weld could cost you. The BOSS Welding Competition takes great skill and attention to detail. The rules are simple.
"Everybody gets the same project, same blueprint, and you do it to the best of your abilities," says Sam Carr, a competitor from Kingsford High School.
Students work individually in their assigned booths behind curtains and are not allowed to consult each other during the competition. They weld various pieces onto a flat base using a variety of welding techniques. The end product is turned in to the judges.
The biggest challenge is following the blueprint to the 'T.' Turning the detailed blueprint into a real welded project is no simple task, and judges pay close attention to every detail.
"There's technical things like pin holes, porosity, proper weld size, weld length. We're looking for all of those things," says Brian Mitchell, BOSS maintenance manager and judge for the competition. Mitchell is also a past competitor.
One of the biggest benefits of the competition is the collaboration between BOSS and the students. It's here that BOSS finds many of its future employees.
"What we've done is basically put together a test that gives them the challenges of what a day in the life of a BOSS manufacturing employee might be."
BOSS is among the largest employers in Dickinson County, and several of their employees are past winners of this competition. More than $1,000 in prizes were awarded to this year's winners.
1st Place: Brett Michaud of Kingsford High School
2nd Place: Jessica Milks of Norway High School. Milks was also the only female competitor this year.
3rd Place: Sean Conery of North Dickinson High School
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