Welders Compete at Daytona 500 for Spot on U.S. Team

Every two years, hundreds of young people from 52 member countries/regions compete in the prestigious WorldSkills Competition. Member countries include: Japan, England, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Brazil and many others. Considered “the best of the best,” contestants compete for four days in 45 occupational skill areas from economic sectors including manufacturing, information technology, transportation, construction and services.

Accompanied by their teachers, trainers and industry technical committee experts, these young people compete before the public in contests that are run and judged by industry using demanding international standards.

Alex Pazkowski, Andrew Cardin and Tanner Tipsword are all members of SkillsUSA, the organization that represents the United States in the WorldSkills Competition. Competitors in WorldSkills must be under the age of 23. There will be a total of 20 members of WorldTeam.

Other occupational areas in which the United States plans to compete include: Autobody Repair; Automobile Technology; Beauty Therapy; Bricklaying; Cabinetmaking; Car Painting; CNC Milling; CNC Turning; Cooking;  Graphic Design; Hairdressing; IT Networks Systems Administration; Mechatronics (a two-person team contest); Plumbing & Heating; Print Media Technology; Restaurant Service; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning; and, Web Design.

Larsen Motorsports is a multi-team national professional racing organization specializing in turbine powered high performance vehicles based at the developing Embry Riddle Research and Technology Park in Daytona Beach, FL. www.LMSJets.com

The American Welding Society (AWS) is a nonprofit organization with a goal to advance the science, technology and application of welding. The AWS supports welding education and technology development, while being the foremost authority in welding codes and inspection to ensure a strong, competitive and exciting way of life for all Americans. www.aws.org

SkillsUSA helps students discover and grow their career passions. As a nationwide partnership of students, instructors and industry working together, SkillsUSA works to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It helps every student excel.

The nationwide career and technical education student organization annually serves more than 320,000 high school, college and postsecondary students—and their instructors—in technical, skilled, and service occupation instructional programs. Career and technical education is learning that works for America.

SkillsUSA has the active support of more than 1,100 corporations, trade associations, business and labor unions at the national level. Over 10.5 million people have been annual members of SkillsUSA since its founding as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America in 1965.

SkillsUSA programs teach leadership, citizenship and character development to complement technical skill training. The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety. www.skillsusa.org