Job “Weld” Done

BVT students sweep competition

Competing against some of the best welding students from Massachusetts and Connecticut, a strong contingent of Manufacturing Technology students from Blackstone Valley Tech recently swept the top four prizes at the 18th Annual Notch Pipe Welding Challenge. Seen here are members of the BVT team (left to right):  Silver medalist Todd Mahoney of Sutton; Russell Poirier of Upton; gold medalist Marc Peladeau of Sutton; Gregory Renk of Upton; and fourth-place finisher Kevin Konieczny of Upton. Not pictured is Ethan Goulet of Uxbridge, who captured the third-place bronze medal.

 In a first for both the school and the longstanding competition, a team of Manufacturing Technology students from Blackstone Valley Tech recently swept the top four prizes in the 18th Annual Notch Pipe Welding Challenge.

Organized by Notch Mechanical Constructors and numerous industry partners, the annual event features competition among some of the best welding students from vocational technical schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut. This year’s sweep by BVT students marks the first time a single school has captured the contest’s first, second, third, and fourth-place prizes.

Valley Tech’s winning welders included gold medalist Marc Peladeau of Sutton, silver medalist Todd Mahoney of Sutton, bronze medalist Ethan Goulet of Uxbridge, and fourth-place finisher Kevin Konieczny of Upton. Russell Poirier and Gregory Renk, both of Upton, also represented BVT in the Notch Pipe Welding Challenge. The team was joined at the event by BVT Welding instructor Dan Rivera, who has inspired dozens of BVT students to take part in competitive welding events on the state, national, and even international levels. 

At the 18th Annual Notch Pipe Welding Challenge, a representative of Notch Mechanical Contractors presented the first, second, third, and fourth-place prizes to Manufacturing Technology students from Blackstone Valley Tech. The students’ overwhelming success marks the first time a single school has captured the competition’s top four prizes. The winning students are (from left to right): first-place winner Marc Peladeau of Sutton; second-place winner Todd Mahoney of Sutton; BVT Welding instructor Dan Rivera, representing third-place winner Ethan Goulet of Uxbridge; and fourth-place winner Kevin Konieczny of Upton.