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Victor Technologies announces winners of student cutting and welding contest

St. Louis-based Victor Technologies™, a provider of cutting, gas control, and specialty welding equipment, has announced the six winners of its 2013 A Cut Above contest for students in welding and cutting programs at secondary and postsecondary schools.

The individual winners, who each won a $250 cash prize for their winning essays describing how cutting has influenced their lives, are:

  • Terrance Biggers from Tennessee College of Applied Technologies, Union City, Tenn. (instructor James Daniels), who wrote an essay on the discovery of the limitless options for fabricating works of art using cutting and welding.
  • Michael Bramblett from George Stone Technical Center, Pensacola, Fla. (instructor James Mathews), whose essay focused on the life-changing influence of welding on his future.
  • Jonathan Lawler from Bellingham Technical College, Bellingham, Wash. (instructor Sarah Patterson), who wrote an essay on his evolving passion to combine welding with a strong sense of community.

The team winners, whose members each won $500 for submitting a cutting project that incorporated oxyfuel, air fuel, or plasma cutting, are:

  • Matthew Focht, Jack Daniel, and Brett Eschliman, Highland High School, Gilbert, Ariz. (instructor Curtis Willems), who re-created a Victor torch on a 6-to-1 scale.
  • Ryland Barney, Cody Gifford, and Garrett Shafer, Highland High School, Gilbert, Ariz. (instructor Curtis Willems), who built a “Victor Man” sculpture.
  • John Dantonio and Lauren Quinn, Assabet Valley Technical High School, Marlborough, Mass. (instructor Chris Wittmier), who built the Star Wars Venator Cruiser.

All schools associated with the winners also won a cutting, welding, and gas control package.