For Immediate release

5-18-05

Bessemer State Student Wins Competition

Byron C. Blankenship, a welding student at Bessemer State Technical College, recently won the Alabama Skills USA Welding Competition held April 13 and 14 at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa. 

Blankenship’s first place win earned him an ESAB 260 multi-process welding machine.  Spencer Jones, ESAB Sales Manager, presented Blankenship with the award.  The welding machine included the gun, electrode holder and ground clamp, gas solenoid, and all of the interconnecting cables. 

Blankenship will represent Bessemer State at the National Skills USA competition June 20 through 25 in Kansas City.

Skills USA is a national organization serving teachers, high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations. More than 264,000 students and instructors join Skills USA annually, organized into nearly 13,000 chapters and 54 state and territorial associations.