JULY 2016 / WELDING JOURNAL 87 DETROIT April 13 Location: Addison Iron Fabricator’s, Detroit, Mich. Topic: Women Who Weld Summary: Wes Doneth visited the facility to see the lastest Women Who Weld class in action. Samantha Farr and Ralph Taylor were teaching the fundamentals to seven students over three weeks. The Section donated protective equipment such as helmets, jackets, gloves, and other essential tools to the class. Tom Viggiano, Roy Smith Co., and Steve Smith, Weld-Aid, also assisted with supplies. Doneth was impressed with Farr and Taylor engaging on a grassroots level with the community on behalf of AWS. April 15 Location: Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Mich. Presenter: Glenn Kay II, CWI/CWE, instructor and department chair, welding and fabrication department Topic: The Section’s high school welding contest Summary: The Section held its 43rd annual high school welding contest, which had more than 35 participants from nine different high schools from across Michigan. More than $9000 in prizes, including three power sources for the top three finishers, was awarded. Ian Schwenke, South & West Washtenaw Consortium, won first place and $2500; James Bedzyk, William D. Ford Career Technical Center, won second place and $2000; Jared Lambrix, Flat Rock Community High School, won third place and $2000; Matt Nyrkkanen, South & West Washtenaw Consotrium, won fourth place and $1500; and Christopher Flores, Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northeast, won fifth place and $1500. April 30 Location: MGM Grand, Detroit, Mich. Presenter: Tyler Alexander, B.A. Sc., weld engineering supervisor, Center- Line (Windsor), Ltd. Event: 76th Annual Section Ladies’ Night Celebration Summary: This annual event has been an important activity for the Section for 76 years and affords a unique opportunity for the welding community to come together and celebrate the achievements of our industry. Most importantly, funds raised from the evening gala are used to support the Section Scholarship program. Since its inception, the Section has contributed close to $800,000 to scholarships for students pursuing a career in welding. First Vice Chairman Tyler Alexander acted as host and Past Chair Don Maatz was MC. They were joined by David L. McQuaid, AWS president, and almost 400 other likeminded welding professionals who added more than $8000 to its scholarship fund. The event also highlighted the other aspects of the Section, including Women Who Weld, a unique program that uses welding to help women in need. May 12 Location: Casadei Steel, Sterling Heights, Mich. Presenter: Robert Casadei, vice president, Casadei Steel Topics: Section awards night, Old Timer’s Night Summary: Casadei provided his insight into the current state of industry with a presentation on structural steel fabrication challenges. The presentation was followed by a tour of the Casadei Steel fabrication facility. The night was also the Section’s annual Old-Timer’s Night. Two individuals were recognized: Michael Poss with his 25-year service certificate and two-time Section Chairman Thomas Sparschu with his 50-year Gold Service Award. The event was also the Section’s awards night. The following were honored at the meeting: Industry Sponsor Recognition Award, KUKA Systems North America, LLC; Section Appreciation Award, Jeffry Hill, ARO Technologies; and Section Educator Award, Juan Whiting, Golightly VoTech. DETROIT — Winners of the high school welding contest stood with AWS Learning Sales Rep. Efram Abrams (from left), Section Chair Wes Doneth, and Welding Contest Chair Glenn Kay II, including first place winner Ian Schwenke, second place winner James Bedzyk, third place winner Jared Lambrix, fourth place winner Matt Nyrkkanen (not pictured, instructor Steve Hasselbach standing in for Nyrkkanen), fifth place winner Christopher Flores, and Welding Contest Chair Glen Knight. DETROIT — The Section’s high school welding competition contestants showed their pride alongside Section Chair Wes Doneth and Welding Contest Chair Glenn Kay II (lower right hand). SECTION NEWS
Welding Journal | July 2016
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