Mr. Howell and the following students are attending the Arkansas Weld Expo in Little Rock AR, this Wednesday, December 4th. Mr. Howell traveled to Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, AR to attend the Arkansas Weld Expo. The students got to demo the latest welding equipment and speak with manufacturers representatives about their products and how they could benefit them in the welding trade. 

  They began the morning listening to an inspirational career path from Athena Alexander how she started in High School CTE and shared her journey as a testament to hard work, perseverance, and the rewards of following your passion. 

  The students were treated to a nice fried fish, shrimp, and chicken dinner with all the sides. They were able to fellowship with students from the different surrounding schools and each other. 

  The students were amazed at all the different tools, consumables, and welding equipment,  from Lazer welding to Hand Held robotic welders and the latest technology in welding equipment

Students attending: 

Kieshun Henson

Nicholas Hurst

Andreas Mixon

Pachomius Sturtevant

Deangelo Westley

James Lantrip

Jase Loper

Austin Colley

Ethan Black

Corda Scott

A huge shout-out to Mr.Ray Howell and his students for traveling to Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, AR to attend the Arkansas Weld Expo! This was an incredible opportunity for our students to explore the latest welding innovations and engage with industry professionals. During the expo, students had the chance to: Demo the latest welding equipment and experience cutting-edge technology, from laser welding to hand-held robotic welders. Speak directly with manufacturers' representatives about their products and how these tools can enhance their skills in the welding trade. Begin the day with an inspiring career talk by Athena Alexander, who shared her journey from High School CTE to a successful career. Her story of hard work, perseverance, and following her passion resonated with everyone. The day wasn’t just about welding—it was also about building connections. Students enjoyed a delicious fried fish, shrimp, and chicken dinner with all sides, fostering fellowship with peers from surrounding schools and among themselves. Our students were inspired and amazed by the variety of tools, consumables, and cutting-edge welding technology on display. Opportunities like this not only enhance their learning but also open doors to future careers in the trade. Thank you, Mr. Howell, for your leadership and dedication to giving our students such impactful experiences. And thank you to the students for representing us with pride and curiosity!

I know those times like this day are once-in-a-lifetime moments. To have the equipment there for them to see with their own eyes. Not every day you can see over a million dollars worth of equipment and supplies, and the opportunity to get to play with it and or view it in operation. To have the experts there all in one place to ask as many questions as possible all together in one place is not something that happens every day, because many are competitors to each other. 

   They generally invite Arkansas Schools, but the owners of the Welding Company that holds the event and I have known each other for over 30 years, so they send our students and me an invitation each year. At the beginning of the conference, one of the presidents of the company made a point to always recognize us. It's pretty cool they do this just for the students. - Instructor Ray Howell