KW student nabs $4k scholarship at welding contest
In a competition testing the welding skills of 170 students from three states, Kelly Walsh senior Dallan Harvey earned top honors and a $4,000 scholarship.
Harvey's scholarship from the American Institute of Steel Construction's Education Foundation was one of three top awards given at the eighth annual AISC Steel Days competition on Oct. 18 at Puma Steel in Cheyenne.
Jedediah Hoyt of Rock Springs and Logan Hamilton of Cheyenne East earned $4,000 scholarships from Puma Steel and the Rocky Mountain Steel Construction Association, respectively.
The three first-place winners also were awarded $1,000 welding machines.
The competition featured students from 25 schools in Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska.
Other Kelly Walsh students earning scholarships included Kale Sallee ($1,500, Norfolk Iron and Metal); Jacob Studer ($1,000, Gillette Steel); Reese Harrison ($1,000, Martin/Martin Wyoming); Hunter Schnepper ($1,000, Puma Steel); Jared Raffensperger ($1,000, AISC Steel Days); and Cameron Ritchie ($500, Peterson Company).
Natrona County High School's Zachery Gentry picked up a $1,000 AISC Steel Days scholarship as well.
Three students picked up $2,500 scholarships: Beau Corn, Karval, Colo. (High Plains Steel Supply); Noah Hymas, Rock Springs (Peabody Energy); and Lars Story III, Cheyenne Central (Team Puma).
Three $1,500 scholarships were awarded: Sallee, Kelly Walsh, Sterling Fertig, Cheyenne East (Intsel Steel West); and Angerlo Fornengo, Rock Springs (Searing Industries).
Twelve $1,000 scholarships went to: Raffensperger, Schnepper, Harrison and Studer, Kelly Walsh; Gentry, Natrona County; Lucas Peterson, Rawlins, Drew Collins, Cheyenne East, and Jadon Martinez, Rawlins (AISC Steel Days); Karson Mathews, Rock Springs (Nucor Beam Mill Group); Maddox Ice, Rock Springs (Dyno Nobel); and Ashton Allen, Cheyenne East (Black Cat Erectors).
Nine $500 winners included: Ritchie, Kelly Walsh; Brody Heppner and Everett Nelson, Cheyenne East, and Caid Graves, Wheatland (AISC Steel Days); Sobe Barber, Rock Springs (Welding and Joining Management); Ridge Pinkerton, Durango, Colo., (L&H Industrial); Trigg Thompson, Cheyenne Central; Adrien Rupke, Cheyenne East (DenCol Steel); and Carson West, Green River (Brown Strauss Steel).
The initial round was held Oct. 17 at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. The final round of competition was held the following morning at Puma Steel, followed by a luncheon where the 30 scholarship winners were announced and awarded by Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins.
The event and scholarship prizes were supported by Puma Steel, the American Institute of Steel Construction, Laramie County Community College, the Rocky Mountain Steel Construction Association and 16 additional sponsors who supplied the $40,000 funding for the scholarships.
Vendors provided the $20,000 in welding supplies for the event.
Scholarships can be used at Wyoming community colleges that have welding programs.
Steel Days is the structural steel industry's largest educational and network function. Each year, Steel Days offers free events to showcase how the industry contributes to building America.
