Three Welding students from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center (OCTEC) and Niagara Career and Technical Education Center (NCTEC) brought home the top three medals from the 2026 AWS (American Welding Society) Weld Off competition.
Teachers Verenice Bragg, Shane Bartella and Eric Farrell, were proud to announce that seniors Zachery Freas (Lyndonville) took first place and Renzo Tomasi (Albion) placed third. Renzo also received a $1,000 scholarship that he will use when he attends Alfred State College this fall. Louis Zimmerman (Niagara Wheatfield) took second place in the Junior category.
The competition was held on March 28th at the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo. It was free to all participants and each BOCES and/or technology school is allowed to send two seniors and two juniors. First place winners receive a $200, second place $150 and third place is a $100 prize. They also receive a prize pack from the American Welding Society.
Zachery’s first place win, Louis' second place win and Renzo's third place win qualify them to attend the Thruway Cup in Albany, NY in May.
Mr. Farrell added, "I think aside of having three winners, the bigger story is that four students from each of our schools spent an entire day investing in their career and challenging themselves to be better and then as a result three students took top honors in a field of over 30 competitors."