Date of Event: 03/12/2025
Location: Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College
Number of Attendees: More than 20
Presenter/Notable Guest(s): Otto Burrion with Florida Gas Welding Supplies and Frank Vargas with Uniweld Products spoke to welding students about the importance of welding, their experiences in the field, and various careers. “The sky’s the limit,” Vargas shared.
Kristin Campbell, managing editor of the Welding Journal, told students about AWS, what it’s like to work on our monthly magazine, and to sign up for their free AWS student membership. Stickers and pens supplied by the AWS Foundation were distributed.
Juvenal Calvo with TIP TIG USA shared an engaging presentation with slides, videos, and pictures about the TIP TIG welding process. It combines the precision of traditional gas tungsten arc welding with a wire-feed mechanism, resulting in a more efficient, precise, and high-quality weld. Calvo also told the students, “The more you’re able to learn will make you valuable.” However, as money is made, he stressed to pay attention to your finances, make a plan, and find a good mentor. He later performed a demonstration in the welding lab and let students try the process.
Additional guests included AWS South Florida Section Chair Gilly Burrion; Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College Welding Instructor Oscar Guerrero; and Welding Journal Associate Editor Alexandra Quinones.
Event Summary: Otto Burrion with Florida Gas Welding Supplies and Frank Vargas with Uniweld Products spoke to welding students about the importance of welding, their experiences in the field, and various careers. Kristin Campbell, managing editor of the Welding Journal, told students about AWS, what it’s like to work on the monthly magazine, and encouraged them to get their free AWS student membership. She also distributed stickers and pens supplied by the AWS Foundation. Juvenal Calvo with TIP TIG USA shared an engaging presentation with slides, videos, and pictures about the TIP TIG welding process. It combines the precision of traditional gas tungsten arc welding with a wire-feed mechanism, resulting in a more-efficient, precise, and high-quality weld. He also performed a demonstration in the welding lab and let students try the process. Additional meeting guests included AWS South Florida Section Chair Gilly Burrion, Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College Welding Instructor Oscar Guerrero, and Welding Journal Associate Editor Alexandra Quiñones.
