Beloit, KS – [March 30, 2026] — Fort Hays Tech | North Central is proud to announce outstanding achievements by students in its Welding program at the SkillsUSA Kansas State Leadership and Skills Conference, held in Hutchinson, Kansas.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. The annual state competition brings together top students from across Kansas to compete in hands-on contests designed to test real-world skills, technical knowledge, and workplace readiness. Gold medalists at the state level advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Fort Hays Tech | North Central students competed in both Welding Individual and Welding Fabrication events, showcasing their technical abilities across multiple welding processes.

In the Welding Fabrication competition, a three-person team consisting of Calen Beck (Jewell, KS), Tucker Loesch (Hoisington, KS), and Karsten Nichols (Garden City, KS) earned a Gold Medal and First Place finish. The team was tasked with completing a fabrication project—a chair—within a three-hour time limit. The project required proficiency in GMAW (MIG), SMAW (Stick), and oxy-fuel cutting, as well as teamwork, precision, and time management.

In the Welding Individual competition, students were evaluated on multiple welding processes under strict time constraints. Competitors were given 30 minutes for each process, including SMAW, GMAW, aluminum GTAW (TIG), and oxy-fuel cutting.

Trevor Housholder (Ness City, KS) earned a Silver Medal and Second Place finish, while Colton Walters (Beloit, KS) secured a Bronze Medal and Third Place finish.

"These results speak to the hard work and dedication of our students," said instructor Blake Schroeder. "Our students spend countless hours in the shop preparing for these competitions. We strive for perfection and efficiency all the time. Not just in competitions, but our day-to-day lab time. Mr. Kopsa and I are very proud of this group of young men. We will be traveling to Atlanta, GA for nationals where they normally have around 6 hours to complete a project. Depending on the size of the project/difficulty of said project. Hopefully we will be bringing home some hardware." 

With their first-place finish, the Welding Fabrication team has qualified to compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where they will represent the state of Kansas and Fort Hays Tech | North Central on the national stage.

Fort Hays Tech | North Central continues to prepare students for high-demand careers through hands-on training and real-world experiences, with SkillsUSA competitions serving as a powerful platform to showcase student talent and industry readiness.

For more information about SkillsUSA or Fort Hays Tech | North Central, please visit www.fhtechnc.edu or contact Marketing Director Ryan Emerson at remerson@fhtechnc.edu or (785) 738-9008.