Dozens of Calgary students put their skills to the test during the eighth annual Calgary High School Welding Rodeo on Saturday.
About 50 students from six school districts participated in the event, which allowed students to showcase their skills including welding, metal fabrication, problem solving and leadership.
This year’s theme was Star Wars. Teams completed a construction project and scrap metal sculpture in a series of timed challenges.
The aim of the competition is to encourage creativity and foster teamwork for students and help them be competitive in technology and business professions. Also there are lots of prizes for the winning teams.
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“The kids have a blast, they get to see the industrial setting, they get to work with the pros,” said Keith Routhier, a high school welding teacher. Some are alumni of the Boilermaker volunteer program, which is a real full circle moment, he said.
The kids — who are in grades 10-12 — work in teams of four and have creative control, Routhier said.
“It gives them real world experience … It gives them an idea of what they can expect when they’re out in the field after graduation.
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