Wallace State student Jacob Humphrey will compete this week in the second round of the American Welding Society/Skills USA world competition.
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State welding student Jacob Humphrey is ready for the second round of the American Welding Society/SkillsUSA world competition. Humphrey is among six students from across the United States congregating at the Robotics Technology Park in Tanner this weekend, and he’ll compete this week.
During the first round, Humphrey was required to submit different welding projects on certain dates, including stainless steel, aluminum and test pipe tasks, among other welds. The projects were sent to various parts of the United States, where they were evaluated and scored.
Humphrey flourished during pre-trials, earning an elusive spot into the second round.
“This has given me the drive to compete and better myself. Some people don’t get this chance to improve in their career choice or have the chance to take the next step. I know there’s someone out there competing who might be as good or better than me, so that’s a motivating factor. When it’s all said and done, you’re really competing against yourself, trying to make a better weld than you did yesterday,” Humphrey said during the first round.
Humphrey, who won a state SkillsUSA championship in high school at Brewer, is now seeking to be among the top three finishers during the second stage of the competition. The top three welders will then face a third round, and the winner will ultimately represent the United States at the WorldSkills Competition in Aug. 2019 at Kazan, Russia.
Humphrey enrolled in Wallace State’s welding program at the outset of the 2018 summer semester.
“Jacob hit the ground running once he came to Wallace State. I’m proud of him. There’s been a lot of work to do and he’s learned a lot. His progression is like daylight and dark,” said Wallace State Welding Department Chair Jim Thompson. “Jacob has been 110 percent dedicated to the process and given up other things to be focused solely on advancing. All of his focus and effort is required.”
For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.
