Nick Baer, second from left, and Brandon Bergen, second from right, finished first and second, respectively, at the Lehigh Valley AWS Student Welding Competition with coaching from LCTI Welding Technology instructors Brad Brandmeir, left, and David Schnalzer, right.

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. | A pair of Lehigh Career & Technical Institute students finished one and two March 2 at the annual Lehigh Valley AWS Student Welding Competition.

Nick Baer earned first place and Brandon Bergen followed on his heels in second place. Both boys attend Northwestern Lehigh High School and are in the Welding Technology program at LCTI.

In addition to students from Monroe Career & Technical Institute, which hosted the event, Baer and Bergen bested students from Career Institute of Technology, Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, Upper Bucks County Technical School and Warren County Technical School to win the competition’s top prizes.

Baer and Bergen were feted Tuesday (March 29) at the Lehigh Valley Section of the American Welding Society student awards banquet.

For his first-place finish, Baer received a Lincoln Electric welding machine and auto-darkening welding helmet, one free Welder Training and Testing Institute certification exam, a $50 Cabela’s gift card, gloves and safety goggles. Bergen received a Real Gear welding machine, one free Welder Training and Testing Institute certification exam, a $50 Cabela’s gift card, gloves and safety goggles.

Congratulations to Nick and Brandon!

Learn more about how the Welding Technology program prepares LCTI students for success.