Photo courtesy of Copper Country ISD Career & Technical Education Cameron Rosenlund, Copper Country ISD CTE Welding and Manufacturing student from Dollar Bay High School, poses while demonstrating a MIG Weld. Rosenlund placed second in the Overall Welding category for the recent SkillsUSA competition where he had showed off his welding skills in MIG, TIG, and SMAW. For his regional finish in an overall competition, he was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Bay Community College.

HANCOCK — Copper Country ISD Career & Technical Education (CTE) students in the Welding and Manufacturing program competed virtually against CTE peers from other U.P. programs in the annual SkillsUSA Competition. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, programs competed in-house and sent scores to the U.P.’s regional office in Escanaba. In typical years, the SkillsUSA competition hosts over 300 students at Bay Community College where they participate in various CTE competitions in hopes of moving on to the corresponding state and national competitions.

CCISD CTE students placed very well in competition with their regional peers across the U.P.

Cameron Rosenlund, from Dollar Bay High School, placed second regionally in the Overall Welding category where students were tasked with completing welds in MIG, TIG, and SMAW. His second-place finish earned him a $1,000 scholarship from Bay Community College.

Other CCISD CTE students who competed and placed regionally in the Overall Welding competition were Tom Lassila (third) and Charles Haataja (fourth) both from Jeffers High School. The other welding categories had Seth Coppo from Calumet High School place third in TIG welding and Eric Anderson from Hancock High School place fourth in the SMAW competition. Manufacturing had a separate competition allowing students to show off their handiwork on a mill and lathe. Samson Knapp, (homeschool) finished first regionally in the Machining – Mill competition.

“The competition made me a little nervous, but it was nice to weld for a competition to show off my skills rather than just practicing in class,” said Coppo. “I hope to continue my education in welding at Gogebic Community College and then a trade school to get a job and be happy. (The competition) will hopefully help get my name out there to get some job references.”

Coppo has already earned an industry recognized certification in SMAW from the CTE Welding and Manufacturing program and plans to earn more certifications before the year ends to prepare him for his goal of becoming a professional welder.

“The students look forward to competitions like this every year, so the ability to host this virtually was a really big morale boost for students,” said Tim Stites, CTE Welding and Manufacturing instructor. “Competing against their U.P. peers allowed the students to show what they are learning in class and get a little nervous to promote their growth and skills.”

Stites worked with his peer instructors to put together the competition for students across the U.P.

The status of the state and national SkillsUSA competitions are still being determined, but if they do occur will also be virtual.

For more information about the CCISD Career & Technical Education’s Welding and Manufacturing or any other program visit their webpage at copperisd.org/career-technical-education/ or by calling the CTE office at 906-482-4250.