The Coolest Thing You've Ever Seen
One day while online, Emma Skala saw a picture of a downsized Ferris Wheel used to store saddles, and decided she wanted to have one someday.
In mid-April, she saw an advertisement for Lampton Welding Supply’s “The Coolest Thing I’ve Ever Seen” welding competition on May 16 in Oklahoma City. The annual competition invites welders from anywhere to showcase their talent, with sponsors like Lincoln Electric and Hypertherm Plasma.
“I figured the competition would be a great reason to at least attempt to make it,” Skala said. “I’d take it down to Oklahoma for my first ever welding competition.”
Skala reached out to her welding instructor, Jacob Ronnau to help create her saddle wheel. She spent a week drawing and designing it using AutoCAD. She then cut the pieces with a laser cutter and plasma table, and used several other tools and equipment all provided by SCC in the Welding Technology Center.
It was the week of the competition when the wheel was officially finished.
“To say I was proud would be an understatement,” Skala said. “I was ecstatic, it came together better than I imagined.”
Skala, Ronnau, and Sapphire Guzman hauled the wheel down to Oklahoma for the competition.
Skala’s wheel was entered in the “Big & Awesome” category, and Guzman entered the “Small” category, using a sculpture she created for the SkillsUSA competition last year.
After exploring the other designs submitted for the competition, Skala and Guzman were both announced as winners of their categories. Their prize was a custom-welded trophy, as well as a discount at the Lampton Welding Supply location in Beatrice.
“I am extremely proud of both students for their initiative, creativity, and willingness to compete while representing SCC in such a professional and respectable manner,” Ronnau said.
Damon Bennett
Activities Information Director
402-437-2077
dbennett@southeast.edu