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SkillsUSA Contacts: Jane DeShong Short or Karen Kitzel Phone: (703) 777-8810 Emails: [email protected] or [email protected]

Young Skilled Welder to Compete in Welding at WorldSkills Competition

Leesburg, Va. — Chandler Vincent of Price, Utah, will represent the United States in Welding during the biennial WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Vincent will compete as a member of the SkillsUSA WorldTeam. The 44th international event will be held Oct. 14-19.

Vincent won the right to compete by earning the Utah state SkillsUSA Championships gold medal in both 2015 and 2016 in Welding and by placing fourth in 2015 and fifth in 2016 at the national SkillsUSA Championships. He has also successfully completed other qualifying prerequisites prior to being chosen for the team.

“I set a goal to win the U.S. welding trails and focused exclusively on making that happen,” said Vincent. “Every day I worked toward the goal without really thinking beyond that point. Now that I will be representing the United States, I am excited and overwhelmed, yet determined to be the best welder and representative I can be. I am thankful for the sacrifice and support of others who made it possible for me to pursue my dream. It is an honor to represent my country and the welding trade at the WorldSkills Competition.”

Vincent is currently attending Utah State University Eastern in Price, Utah, and is rigorously training in preparation for the competition. Mason Winters is one of his instructors and has been in the process of helping to train Vincent for nearly three years. When asked about Vincent’s abilities, Winters said, “Chandler is an extremely dedicated welding competitor and has limitless bounds when achieving goals that he has set forth. I am proud of his accomplishments and his ability to strive for excellence and continuous improvement in welding. I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to work with Chandler and feel very confident that with his humble attitude and his ability to perform under pressure, he will be an excellent role model and competitor for the U.S. WorldTeam.”

Another of Vincent’s professors at Utah State University Eastern, Lon Youngberg, said, “Chandler demonstrates all the positive characteristics that educators hope to instill in students, particularly dedication and persistence. His journey to WorldSkills started with a simple yet extremely challenging goal. Daily, his commitment to that goal was tested. There were days when the challenges seemed too great and he would go home exhausted and beaten. The next morning, he would show up smiling and ready to try again. This unyielding determination and positive attitude fueled the skill and confidence that make Chandler a champion. I know he will be a fabulous representative for Utah State University Eastern, the welding community and the United States of America.”

Vincent’s mother, Melinda Hadlock, also commented, “Chandler has always been very determined to master anything that he was working on. Since he was 2 years old I would find him under the sink ‘fixing it’ and working on everything around the house that needed to be repaired. He realized he loved welding his freshman year, and then he decided to be the best welder he could be. We are proud of him and know that he will make the United States of America very proud!”

In the WorldSkills Welding contest, working under time constraints, the contestants join sections, pipe and plate and fabricate large and small pressure vessels. Each competitor prepares and finishes different welded joints. A welder interprets engineering working drawings, standards and symbols to prepare and join a range of metals of various gauges using electrical and electrical/gas shielded processes. Welding professionals need to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of various welding equipment and processes, metallurgy, and electrical processes to choose correctly from among them depending on the material being joined.

Every two years, hundreds of young people from more than 77 countries and regions compete in the prestigious WorldSkills Competition. Member countries include Japan, England, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Argentina and many others. To see a list of member countries and regions, go to: www.worldskills.org/about/members/.

There are 11 members on the SkillsUSA WorldTeam. Other occupational areas in which the United States plans to compete include Automobile Technology, Bakery, Bricklaying, Hairdressing, Mechatronics (two-person team), Plumbing and Heating, Print Media Technology, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and Web Design and Development.

In 2017, more than 1,300 competitors will test their skills in Abu Dhabi. Considered “the best of the best,” contestants compete for four days in 51 occupational skill areas from economic sectors including manufacturing and engineering technology, information and communication technology, construction and building technology, transportation and logistics, creative arts and fashion, and social and personal services. Accompanied by their teachers, trainers and industry technical committee experts, these young people compete before the public in contests that are run and judged by industry using demanding international standards. The competition brings together young people from around the world in their chosen professions. They represent the best students selected in local and national skills competitions for professional education.

Five thousand international experts, delegates and judges will gather from around the world, and 3,000 volunteers will be recruited to assist in the competition. A total of 100,000 student and public spectators will attend the competition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). For more information about the competition, go to: https://worldskillsabudhabi2017.com/en/.

Unlike other national teams in the WorldSkills Competition, the SkillsUSA WorldTeam is funded solely through private donations. To donate funding or in-kind support, go to: www.skillsusa.org/competitions/worldskills/donate-to-worldteam/.

About SkillsUSA SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 300,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships, designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to its students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and other workplace credentials. For more information, go to: www.SkillsUSA.org.

About WorldSkills Over its 65-year history, WorldSkills International has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training. It provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy. The continued growth of WorldSkills International attests to the fact that traditional trade and craft skills, along with newer technology’s multi- skilled occupations, make an essential contribution to the economic and social well-being of people everywhere. For more information, go to: www.WorldSkills.org.