Blake Ellis/Local Journalism Initiative

Four LCCVI students distinguished themselves at a Skills Canada welding competition held at Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School in Sarnia.
Three welders are moving on to represent Lambton-Kent at the western area qualifying competition to be held at Fanshawe College in London on April 13.
John Dawson has been teaching welding at LCCVI for the past three years but this year was his first opportunity to send students to the competition after a two-year break due to the pandemic.
“I just chose my strongest students,” said Dawson, saying they are often the first students in class and are usually the last to leave.
LCCVI ran the table taking all of the top three spots at the school district wide competition, with Tye Burr in first, Carson Cumming taking second and Logan Crummy in third. J.V. Fabricante was not to be outdone, coming in fifth.
This was the first time that any of the LCCVI students had participated in an event like this. They were surprised to do so well.
Burr said it put his skills under pressure as he raced to complete the tasks required in the competition. Students were given blue prints they need to follow as they weld.
All of the students were proud to represent their school while also showing their welding skills. They felt participating in this type of competition just allows them to become better welders. Now they know what to expect heading into the next round of competition.
The students hope to turn their welding skills and knowledge into a job after they graduate from high school. Pipefitting is a possibility as Dawson has introduced them to pipe fitter and boiler maker unions to make connections into the field.
Fabricante is in his second year of welding of welding at LCCVI. He arrived in the area with his family from the Philippines only a year and a half ago.