Share this article:
March 21, 2025 – Twin Falls, ID
Twin Falls, Idaho – On Friday, March 28th, the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) hosted its 8th annual Welding Wars event, attracting nearly 90 high school students who came to put their welding and fabrication skills to the test. The event provided a platform for students to demonstrate their craftsmanship and gain valuable industry exposure.
The competition featured several categories, including an individual welding contest, a team fabrication challenge, and an instructor competition. Each contestant was given a unique project design and just four hours to build it, showcasing both their technical skills and creativity.
Kyle Cox, one of the student participants, expressed his enthusiasm: “I’ve never been to a welding competition, and it’s pretty competitive. I enjoy the competitive aspect of it, and I enjoy welding, so it’s pretty fun.”
Judging the event were industry experts, Shannen Aranmor from Project MFG and Kerry Shatell, Vice President of the American Welding Society. Thanks to generous sponsor donations, the winners and participants walked away with over $35,000 worth of prizes. Keep reading to find out the top three winners in each category.
Beyond the competition, the event also featured a Career Discovery event, giving students the chance to connect with several industry vendors and manufacturers. This opportunity allowed students to network and explore local job prospects, with many also engaging in mock interviews to sharpen their job-seeking skills.
Clay Wilkie, a welding instructor at CSI, shared his goals for the event: “I hope they leave with more connections in welding and see the bigger picture in welding. I also hope they learn things about welding procedures and projects.”
While the students competed, welding instructors had the chance to participate in an Instructor Forum led by Shannen Aranmor. The forum focused on unraveling the complexities of welding terminology in what Aranmor called the “AWS Alphabet Soup.” As she explained, “What we’re going to do is unravel a few mysteries of more complicated welding topics, and we’re calling it the AWS Alphabet Soup. We’ll talk about things like WPS, PQR, SWPS… There are so many acronyms that it feels like an alphabet soup!”
This year’s Welding Wars not only provided a fun and challenging competition for students but also served as a valuable educational experience, fostering connections between aspiring welders, industry experts, and potential employers. It’s clear that the event continues to grow in both significance and impact for the local welding community.
Febraury 28th, 2025 winners:
First-Place Fabrication team:
Maple Mountain High School
Competitors:
Second-Place Fabrication team:
Grant Pass High School
Competitors:
Third-place Fabrication team:
Butte High School
Competitors:
First-Place Individual:
Matthew Nonato
School:
Mentor:
Jake Leair
Second-Place Individual:
Ben Perez
School:
Skyview High School
Mentor:
Issac Rodriguez
Third-place Individual:
Elijah Sweet
School:
Grant Pass High School
Mentor:
Jake Leair
First-Place Instructor:
Alan Loyd
School:
second-Place Instructor:
Ivak Cooper
School:
Third-Place Instructor:
Matt Nelson
School:
Event Photos
about The College of southern Idaho
At CSI their core mission is to give students access to higher education opportunities, provide them with the support systems they need to thrive, and ensure they are successful in the pursuit of their educational goals. Whether they are dual credit students, looking to transfer to a four-year college or university, seeking to begin a career in local industry, or pursuing short-term training that will allow them to advance in their current job, their students are their primary focus.
Visit their website to learn more!
about project mfg
Project MFG is a catalyst that helps elevate the next generation of highly skilled trade professionals by changing mindsets, fostering community preparedness, and challenging how the critical skills needed to succeed in modern advanced manufacturing are taught. Through single and multiple technology competitions, participants gain hands-on experience with the latest technology and support from subject matter experts
For more information about Project MFG competitions and future events, please visit projectmfg.com or contact marketing@projectmfg.com.
