Channellock announces 2019 Trade School Trade-Up winners

A Wisconsin high school welding program’s contributions to its community helped it take first place in the CHANNELLOCK Trade School Trade-Up competition. The competition challenges students to create a one-of-a-kind video showcasing their team’s technical skills in action. Videos are judged based on creativity, passion for their respective trade, and the impact made on their community with the help of CHANNELLOCK hand tools. Teams must be made up of students in auto, plumbing, welding, electrical, or HVAC trades.

Ladysmith High School in Ladysmith, Wis., won the first-place prize of $5,000 cash, new tools for students and their classroom, and a classroom makeover. The school’s welding program was chosen for its video highlighting its welding program and the improvements and contributions it has made to its city. Those include silhouettes for its city veterans memorial, railings for city parks, downtown bike racks, and repair of burned-out grills in city parks. Students in the program have also created numerous sign art pieces and metal frame tables that they've donated to community organizations for charity auctions.

The company selected the top three submissions and released them for social media voting. Once all the votes were in, Ladysmith High School was awarded first place after receiving the most social media likes for their video submission.

The second-place winner, Norwalk High School in Norwalk, Calif., received $2,500, and third-place winner Great Oaks Career Campuses, Laurel Oaks Campus, in Wilmington, Ohio, won $1,000. Both schools also won tools for team members and their classrooms.