A total of $22,000 in MTI scholarships were awarded to high school seniors at Saturday’s competition
Springfield, IL.—Sparks were flying at Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) this past Saturday as high school seniors from across the central Illinois region competed for a chance to demonstrate their welding skills and the opportunity to win an MTI scholarship.
Forty-four high school seniors received $500 scholarship awards, but the top prizes went to the winners of the competition:
- First Place: Mitchell Casey of OKAW Area Vocational Center; awarded a $5,000 scholarship. OKAW Area Vocational Center will also receive a $1,000 donation from MTI.
- Second Place: Kyle Miller of OKAW Area Vocational Center; awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
- Third Place: Lonny Rosentreter of Carlinville High School; awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
The MTI High School Welding Competition was held Saturday, April 24th, 2021 at MTI’s Springfield, IL campus location. The annual competition resumed this year after being canceled last year due to COVID-19. The event was live streamed on Facebook, showcasing the welders in their booths, interviews with competitors, and the entire awards ceremony. The replay is available on Facebook.
Director of High School Admissions, Louie Schonauer, described the importance of the annual welding competition, “These seniors displayed impressive talent, dedication, and passion for welding today. MTI is proud to offer training to students interested in pursuing a welding career. We’ve seen how learning a skilled trade can change lives, and we will continue to offer these kinds of scholarship opportunities to high school seniors.”
Competitors came from across the central Illinois region, representing the following high schools: Capital Area Career Center, OKAW Area Vocational Center, Carlinville High School, Cowden-Herrick High School, Hillsboro High School, Illini Central High School, Lincoln High School, Gillespie High School, Jacksonville High School, Nokomis High School, Staunton High School, Waverly High School, Vandalia High School, Pittsfield High School, Pana High School, Lanphier High School, Southeast High School, and Calvary Academy.
The welding competition offers high school students more than an opportunity to showcase their welding talents. Participants and their families had the opportunity to tour MTI’s campus, meet with Financial Aid and Admissions Representatives, and learn more about MTI's Welding Program.