RUSSELL, Ky. (WSAZ) – Russell Area Technical Center students were named national champions in a sculpture competition.
Students in the welding program swept the national competition with a metal sculpture with the theme of “Sparkling in the Stars, Celebrating 50 Years of the Space Shuttle Program.”
“The nine kids who took the reigns on this thing, they just decided to own it,” said welding instructor Aaron Woolum. “To see them take pride in this project, see their commitment and their skills develop as it unfolded what we’ve got here in front of us.”
Under the theme, the team of students created their own space shuttle, complete with fireworks and an American flag.
“We kind of set up stations, these people would put it together, these people would shine it, the fireworks, the flags,” said RATC senior Jesse Smith. “Everyone had their own station.”
“We used all kinds of different materials,” Woolum said. “The rockets are leftover pieces of electrical conduit, which is really thin steel metal pipe. That brought a lot of challenges, taking this really thin metal and seeing the kids take control learning how to weld on thin metal.”
Facing these challenges to enter the competition on top of finishing industry certification for the course proved to be hard work, but worth it. The sculpture swept the regional, then national competition, putting Russell on the map in a big way.
“We couldn’t have prepared ourselves for it to hit the national stage or to win the national stage. It was just an everyday thing for us,” Smith said. “I couldn’t be any more proud of how hard we worked on it and how far it came.”
“When they announced that we won national, it gave me chills,” Woolum said. “It was definitely a humbling experience to realize that from our humble little shop in Russell, Kentucky, we were able to reach people on a national level.”
“It felt like we were representing not only our community, but the people who raised us, the people who teach us,” Smith said. “It felt like we were the ones sent out to represent these people.”
It was a big win for the community of Russell and their program, showing that there are opportunities in the world of welding.
“As far as I know, this is the first metal sculpture that’s ever been submitted into this national competition, so we have an opportunity with what we’ve done here to open doors for other welding programs nationwide,” Woolum said.
“I believe that even if welding isn’t someone’s passion or what they’re focused on, it’s something you can learn a lot from,” Smith added.
The sculpture will be displayed permanently at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum in Washington, D.C.
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Source: RATC welding program wins national sculpture competition
