Fort Smith university welding competition sparks River Valley student plans

FORT SMITH — More than 50 high school students from nine school districts in the River Valley participated in the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith’s welding rodeo Friday in hopes to receive scholarships and other prizes. Students divided into four groups and were given a tour of the college’s Baldor Center’s welding lab, completed a written general knowledge test and two welding techniques — arc welding and metal inert gas welding. Both techniques allowed students to display welding abilities by welding a T-joint in a vertical position. “We’re looking for consistency and proper tie in of the welds,” said…