Students who are currently enrolled in Ag. Mechanics, Early College Welding, and STC SCADE program attended the contest for the second time in school history; all students who participated in the contest are active Mission FFA members. Students were able to showcase their torch cutting skills along with performing safety procedures and techniques they learned in their classes. Mission High School took twenty-seven students to the contest where they had to compete individually against 478 competitors from around the region. The contest consists of multiple rounds: the first round consists of cutting 1/4" x 4" flat plate, second round is cutting 1/4" x 2" x 2" angle iron, third through fifth round is cutting 1/4" x 3" C-channel. Eight students were able to advance past the first round. Sophomore, Artemio Balderas, who is part of the Early College Welding program advanced to the final round and placed second out of all 478 individual contestants. Artemio, received multiple prizes for his achievement such as an automatic welding helmet, a Tulsa Welding College School cap, along with a scholarship that pays for half of his enrollment to the Tulsa Welding College campus at Houston, Texas. All the students who participated in this contest also received $250 scholarships which are also to be applied toward tuition at Tulsa Welding School - this adds up to a total of $6750 worth of scholarship opportunities for twenty-sevent students. Multiple students recieved various prizes such as caps, lanyards, cups, and campus paraphernalia. The Mission Ag. Mechanics program was very well represented at the contest and the students are already looking forward to competing in more contests throughout the school year. Sponsors/educators who assisted in preparing these students for competition were: Mrs. Clarissa Saenz (FFA/Ag. Mechanics), Mr. Eduardo Salinas (FFA/Ag. Mechanics), Mr. Valdemar Reyna (Early College Welding Program), and Mr. Armando Trevino (Early College Welding Program and SCADE Program)