Open to all students 19 and older who are enrolled in any of the following: evening adult classes, career or technical school, high school, private trade school, in-plant training classes, technical institutes, junior, community or two-year college courses or apprentice programs.

The only exception is students enrolled in a two-year Associate’s Degree program – who are submitting papers rather than projects – need to apply to the Division IV category. Welding projects may be submitted by individuals or by teams (five maximum, with instructor approval). Division II entries compete on a national level.

As part of the JFLF welding awards program, we proudly support the SkillsUSA and their mission to empower the professional welders of tomorrow. The Division III welding contest is open to all active SkillsUSA members currently enrolled in programs that are designed to prepare students for welding as an occupation. Cash rewards are available on both a state and national level, and equipment awards are given to national winners and instructors.

Division IV is open to all students working toward a two-year degree in a discipline that involves industrial product design, engineering or manufacturing. This program is for qualified students who wish to submit their papers that center around the discipline of welding. Acceptable paper topics include, but are not limited to: challenges associated with the design, engineering or manufacturing of buildings, bridges, machines or mechanical products or apparatus; arc welding research, testing, procedure or process development; welding safety, education, training or the use of virtual reality welding as part of a training program. Students may participate as individuals or groups of up to 6.

Students of two-year programs who wish to submit an actual welding project for consideration in our welding awards program should do so under the Division II program. Students of four-year or graduate programs should submit their papers under the Division V.

Division V is open to all students working toward a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a discipline that involves industrial product design, engineering or manufacturing. This program is for qualified students who wish to submit their papers that center around the discipline of welding. Acceptable paper topics include, but are not limited to: challenges associated with the design, engineering or manufacturing of buildings, bridges, machines or mechanical products or apparatus; arc welding research, testing, procedure or process development; welding safety, education, training or the use of virtual reality welding as part of a training program. Students may participate as individuals or groups of up to 6.

Students of bachelor’s or graduate programs who wish to submit an actual welding project for consideration in our welding awards program should do so under the Division II program.

Submit a Paper

Division VI is open to any instructor, in any level of education, who is currently instructing instructional units or courses in welding.

Any number of individual entries may be submitted by an instructor. Instructors must submit entries as individuals only. Entries submitted by a pair or a group are not eligible.

The objective of the competition is to share the best and most innovative practices in teaching welding. Instructors may submit papers representing their work in teaching. Works may consist of one or more of the following: Lesson plans regarding welding (please include accompanying handouts, visual aids, assessments, and the like). Teaching aids for teaching welding. Tips or tricks for teaching welding. Papers on topics such as welding safety, welding education, or the innovative use of virtual reality to train welders.