Lyndon Institute was proud to host the 2022 Vermont SkillsUSA Welding Competition on April 6th and 7th. Nineteen students from five high schools across Vermont gathered to compete in two full-day events at Lyndon Institute that tested their physical skills and knowledge of welding. LI instructors Ryan Brill and Todd Laplant served as contest coordinators, working with a panel of expert judges to hold a successful event.

On Wednesday, April 6th the Team Welding Fabrication Competition took place in the True Building on the LI campus. Three-member teams from Lyndon Institute, Stratford Tech Center, and St. Johnsbury Academy, worked to each create a welding stand. Dominic Laramee, Chevy Bandy, and Ashton Gould represented Lyndon Institute. The contest began with a written test in the morning to assess their knowledge of welding principles. After the exam, students were able to put their skills to use by building a pre-designed project selected by SkillsUSA. Each team was given an identical set of materials and instructions. Through their welding, students were required to demonstrate their proficiency and technical ability using machines commonly found in a welding workshop. In the end, St. Johnsbury Academy won gold, Stratford Tech Center won silver, and Lyndon Institute took home the bronze medal.

The Welding Sculpture Competition also took place on April 6th. Six students met in Randolph to display and discuss their metal sculptures with a panel of judges. Mabel Buteau, Kaleigh Kittredge, Anthony Butts, and Frost Simonds represented Lyndon Institute. Lyndon Institute swept the competition with Mabel Buteau taking gold, Kaleigh Kittridge winning silver, and Anthony Butts winning bronze for their exceptional sculptures. For her gold medal, Mabel Buteau will move on to the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia later this year. 

After a successful first day of team competition, the Individual Welding Competition began on April 7th with three students from Lyndon Institute, three from St. Johnsbury Academy, three from North Country High School, and one student from Randolph Union High School jockeying for medals. Domanic LaFleur, Zachary Caron, and Colin Kelley competed for Lyndon Institute. After finishing a written exam, the welding competitors received contest drawings and a set of welding procedure specifications along with identical materials. Through various stations, students were tested on different aspects of welding, including measuring replicas, using weld measuring gauges, applying gas metal arc welding on steel, making welds in different positions using short circuiting transfers, and using oxy-acetylene equipment. Lyndon Institute students took home 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, with Domanic LeFleur winning gold, Colin Kelley winning silver, and Zachary Caron winning silver. For his first-place performance, Domanic LeFleur will join Buteau in Atlanta, where he will compete for Lyndon Institute in the National Welding Competition.

The SkillsUSA welding competitions at Lyndon Institute were successful this year in large part to the efforts of Ryan Brill, Todd LePlant, and Lori Simpson who organized and managed the event. Thanks are due to them for their dedication and to everyone in the community who helped make this event possible and help our students succeed. LI congratulates the winners and wishes them luck at this summer’s Nationals.

More information about SkillsUSA can be found at www.skillsusa.org.

Caption - Lyndon Institute senior Domanic LaFleur is seen here during the SkillsUSA Individual Welding Competition held on the LI campus on April 7, 2022. LaFleur took gold in the competition and will continue on to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia on June 20-24, 2022. Photo by Javin Leonard - Lyndon Institute.