Kelton, center, stands with his prizes along with other participants who placed in the competition.

by Brandi Miller for the FCT

Kyle Kelton is destined for great things in his life.  He is a hard worker who is willing to help anyone be it teacher or friend.  Kelton, a senior at Red Bay High School, can do about anything he wants when it comes to working on machines. He has a special talent, however, with welding, and thanks to dedication and hard work on his part, his talents have been recognized and are going to pay off in a big way.

While Kyle has multiple talents with machinery, his passion is welding.

“I’ve always had an interest in heavy equipment,” said Kelton.  “I welded for the first time when I was six and I have had a fascination with it ever since.”

That fascination has served him well.  Kelton recently competed in a welding competition held at Northwest-Shoals Community College where he placed first amid many competitors from much larger schools.

Kelton participated in this competition through the Franklin County Vocational program he attends at Belgreen High School.  The competition took place on the Shoals campus on March 20.  Kelton placed first in the Flux core welding category and earned a scholarship to NWSCC for his talents and hard work.  Kelton placed second as a junior the previous year in this competition.

“We are so proud of Kyle for this huge accomplishment,” said RBHS assistant principal Jeff Madden.  “He has worked hard for this and is very deserving of this honor.”

Kelton’s unique talents have been recognized by some companies who have already contacted him about job opportunities once he completes his schooling.  TVA and the Local 455 boilermaker union have both contacted Kelton about a job.  He would complete a six-month apprenticeship, but once that was completed Kelton would have a fantastic job and most importantly doing something he has always loved.

Kelton credits his time at the Vocational center for teaching him how to take his natural talents and turn them in to something even more.

“My teacher, Justin Steele, at the Vo-Tech is great,” said Kelton. “He is very supportive.”

“Kyle has been one of our students of the month,” said Director of the Career and Technical Education Center, Scott Wiginton. “He is a more reserved student, but other students look up to his abilities in welding.  His teacher (Steele) needs to be given huge credit for the long hours in preparing him for completion of his programs and classroom activities.”

Students are able to attend Vo-Tech and take classes beginning in the tenth grade and Kelton said this is something he strongly encourages students coming up to do.

Besides Kelton, Zach Creekmore placed second and Brandon Cole placed third in the competition held at NWSCC.  Creekmore and Cole both attend Vina High School.  Ash Hatton, a student at Tharptown High School, placed second in place 7018 competition.

This May when Kelton graduates, he will be one step closer to his dream of welding as a career.  Those who have helped him and taught him along the way have absolutely no doubt he will be a huge success in this field.