NWTC's First Annual Welding Rodeo (Sturgeon Bay Campus)
NWTC is hosting our First Annual Welding Rodeo! This event at our Sturgeon Bay campus is FREE and open to the public. The day-long event includes:
- Welding competitions - see below for more details!
- Live auction of finished sculptures to support NWTC scholarships
- STEM career fair with local industry employers and NWTC staff
- Family activities, food, and music
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
- 4:30-6:00 p.m.: Mandatory pre-event safety meeting for ALL welding competition participants; booth and pre-scrap drawing. NWTC Sturgeon Bay campus, room TBD.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
- 7:00-7:45 a.m.: Welding teams load in
- 8:00 a.m.: Scrap metal selection
- 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Welding competition
- 12:00-12:30 p.m.: Mandatory 30-minute lunch break for participants (NWTC will provide lunch for all participants.)
- 12:30-4:30 p.m.: Welding competition continues
- 4:30 p.m.: Conclusion of competition; booth cleanup by teams; sculptures moved to front of booth
- 5:00-5:30 p.m.: Sculpture judging begins
- 5:30-6:00 p.m.: Winners announced, prizes and awards given
- 6:00 p.m.: Live sculpture auction
Competition Overview and Rules
General Info
Welding teams (up to 4 welders) have 8 hours to build a sculpture from donated scrap metal materials. Sculptures must incorporate the “Ports of Imagination” theme with a maximum 5’ x 5’ x 5’ finished size.
Please note: all welding team slots have been filled.
Supplies
Each team will be assigned a 20’ x 20’ booth space equipped with basic welding equipment, a safety gear bag, power, and scrap metal. Plasma cutters and some shop tools may be provided in a centrally located area for all teams’ use. Each team will be responsible for bringing their own hand tools, including grinders, extension cords, ladders, props, clamps, hammers, and lifting devices. NWTC will accommodate electric tools only. Teams must keep all tools and equipment within their 20’ x 20’ booth.
Judging
A panel of three judges including welding instructors, artists, and industry professionals will judge the completed sculptures based on:
- Aesthetics
- Workmanship
- Durability and safety
- Appropriateness for public display
Prizes
Prizes awarded for each category – amateur (high school and college), professional, and corporate team welders – to be announced at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
Ownership
The sculpture produced during the contest are the property of NWTC and will be auctioned to the highest bidder on the day of the event. The proceeds will benefit welding scholarships and event sustainability.
Live Auction Details
- Completed sculptures from welding rodeo will be sold to the highest bidders.
- Maximum dimensions of each sculpture are 5 feet wide by 5 feet high by 5 feet deep.
- Auction is open to the public.
- All money raised will benefit NWTC welding student scholarships.
- Payment due at time of auction.
- All sculptures need to stay on campus at NWTC Sturgeon Bay for one week following the event.
- Winning bidders are responsible for picking up and transporting the sculptures by contacting Michelle Rutues, NWTC event coordinator, at michelle.rutues@nwtc.edu or 920-272-9459.
The Welding Rodeo: Experiences in STEM Education is sponsored by the Department of Navy, Office of Naval Research under ONR award number N00014-24-1-2151. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Naval Research.