ARLINGTON – Nine Arlington High School students qualified for state in April at a Regional SkillsUSA competition at AHS recently.

Advancing in Construction were Daisy Vidal Garcia, Brock Schamp, Riley Morris and Savanna Soltero.

Advancing in Welding were Cody Clark, Sadie Hollingsworth, Ian Seward, Hunter Urionaguena and Dylan Simmons.

Welding students had to demonstrate to judges they knew how to arc weld, MIG weld and torch weld. They also had to pass a written test. Each session was 30 minutes.

“My father welds, and it’s something I’d like to do,” said AHS ninth-grader Dane Byle, who welded a candleholder sculpture out of horseshoes. “I’d love to be an underwater welder.” The construction category focused on students building a 10-foot-long wall, a stair stringer and a roof rafter, in addition to the written test. “There are a lot of leadership components associated with this competition,” said AHS engineering/welding teacher Collin Nelson. “They learn a lot of good skills by going through this process.”

SkillsUSA is a national membership association serving middle school, high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations, and for further education. It is the first time AHS hosted the regionals.