Date of Event: 11/01/2025
Location: New Orleans Pipe Trades, 2541 N. Arnoult Rd., Metairie, LA 70002
Number of Attendees: 90
Presenter/Notable Guest(s): District 9 Director – Anthony Blakeney participated in the event.
Event Summary: The AWS New Orleans Section held its 19th Annual Student Welder Competition on November 1, 2025. The event was hosted by New Orleans Pipe Trades (Ellis Bourque III, Program Director). Forty-Nine (49) Apprentices, High School Students, Technical & Community College Students, and University Students from the Section’s surrounding parishes participated in the event. Food was prepared and served by Rougarou BBQ. Door prizes and welding consumables were donated by Lincoln Electric (Todd Toranto, Regional Representative). Weld test plates were donated by Southland Steel Fabricators (Roddy Karl – Welding Supervisor, and Joey Lombardo – President). Winners of the event received monetary awards. The first place winners from both the Beginner and Advanced levels also received an auto-darkening welding hood donated by Lincoln Electric. Funding for the Student Welder Competition is generated in the prior Spring each year through the proceeds of the Section’s Annual Fishing Rodeo donated by sponsors and participants. The AWS New Orleans Section Board of Officers wishes to thank all of the Schools, Instructors, Parents, Spectators, Sponsors, and of course our Student Welders who participated in this year’s event. You are awesome, and we hope to see you again at next year’s event.
