ESAB launches initiatives to support students pursuing metalworking careers

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, Florence, S.C., has announced three initiatives to support students and schools focused on skilled trade and manufacturing careers:

1. The WeldItForward student and school contest offers equipment, filler metal, and cash prizes with a total retail value exceeding $97,000. Through Oct. 9, 2017, schools in the U.S. and Canada (except Quebec) can enter an essay supporting the contest theme. Judges will select three secondary schools and three postsecondary schools as semifinalists. ESAB will announce the winning schools via a Facebook Live event from FABTECH 2017 on Nov. 7.
2. ESAB is the exclusive equipment sponsor for the Paley-James Project, a collaboration between Jesse James of West Coast Choppers fame and sculpture artist Albert Paley. Each artist will start one sculpture but finish the other. The works will be unveiled on Nov. 6 at FABTECH and auctioned two weeks later. Proceeds will support grants, scholarships, and educational opportunities created by the educational foundations of the five FABTECH co-sponsors: FMA, AWS, CCAI, PMA, and SME.
3. ESAB has created the Metal Mentors website at www.metalmentors.com. The site includes the WeldItForward contest entry portal; news on the Paley-James Project; and scholarship, grant, and career-related information from AWS, CCAI, FMA, PMA, SME and ESAB.