RHS welding student takes bronze at Skills USA

Russellville High School senior Justin Rikard will head to a state-level welding competition in May after claiming bronze at the recent district-level competition.

Rikard took third place for his welding abilities at the Skills USA competition held March 17 at Northwest-Shoals Community College. He was among 250 high school students who converged to compete on skills like electrical construction wiring, drafting, carpentry and automotive service.

For the competition, Rikard was issued a set of blueprints depicting an object. He had to cut the pieces at the shop at the high school prior to competition and then weld them together during competition using a variety of welding methods, including gas metal arc welding, flux cored arc welding and shielded metal arc welding, or stick welding. In addition to the practical challenge, he also had to take a written test.

“I was pretty competitive; I was ready for it,” he said.

For Rikard, one challenge was a lack of practice in the week preceding the competition; he missed several days of school to be with his family during the passing of his grandfather. If not for that, NW-SCC instructor Justin Steele said, he thinks Rikard might have even come in first place.

Nevertheless, he was able to compete at a high level and demonstrate the skill he’s been fascinated by since childhood.

“I remember when I was 10, being in the little shed out there at my daddy’s house, playing with tools and lawnmower blades, being fascinated with it and thinking, ‘I’m going to do that when I get older,’” Rikard said.

Steele, who teaches the dual credit welding course at RHS, described Rikard as a talented student – he’s already amassed almost 30 college credit hours and become certified in FCAW. This summer he plans to take machine shop at NW-SCC in pursuit of a minor in the field. “He’s very impressive,” Steele said.

The state competition will be held April 18-20.