The challenge is an annual competition in which area high school teams and individual students compete to be awarded trophies, medals, and other prizes.

This year, 60 welding students and 42 construction students from seven school districts competed in the challenge. Welding students compete individually, but construction students compete in teams of six, which are chosen by their respective schools.

A safety representative is present throughout the competition to make sure that all students are working safely.

“If (the students) are doing something unsafe or something that could be a little bit safer, he explains to them how they could do it,” said Ryan Stern, Field Representative for the Upper Peninsula Office of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council.

A construction student demonstrates use of an excavator. (Courtesy photo)

Each year, construction students at the Challenge build a pre-designed structure. This year, that structure was a wood shed, which the students were able to take home with them at the end of the day. School districts often sell these structures to raise money for their CTE programs.

Connor, a construction student from Manistique High School, took a break from helping his team build their wood shed to say that his favorite part of the Challenge is “the experience of being able to see all of the things you can do here, and all of the people that are here, and how cool it is to build something new with a group of people.”

In addition to building the wood shed, teams earn points by visiting the operating engineers and running an excavator and a crane, as well as completing an electrical portion.

“You would definitely run an excavator if you were (working for a) building company,” said Stern. “We’re trying to get everything in there.”

Students competing in the welding competition demonstrate either stick welding or wire feed welding. Advanced students use three different welding processes to build a cube which is filled with pressurized air and submerged underwater to check for leaks. The advanced competition is reserved for the top welder from each school.

Lola, a welding student from Ishpeming High School, said that her favorite part about her CTE program is that “you can just pretty much do whatever, and they teach you how to do it the proper way.” After graduation, Lola plans to continue her welding education in Missouri.

“I don’t know if I’m going to win,” said Lola. “I saw some pretty good ones. But I hope I do.”

The competition is judged by building trades union members from all over, including from the Northern Michigan University welding program.

Winning teams and students receive trophies which are brought back to their schools until the next year’s U.P. Construction/Welding Skills Challenge. Medals will be awarded to the top three teams/students as well. New this year, winners will also be taking home banners to be hung in their respective schools.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.