Eleven Galveston College dual credit students from Ball High School participated in the Rodeo Houston Industrial Craft Competition on March 8, 2025, earning top honors among nearly 500 students from 20 Texas schools. As the first-ever dual credit team in the competition, they secured four awards: 1st place for Project Execution, 2nd place for Best of Show, and 3rd place in both Safety Program and Built to Specification.

The competition, part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, highlights the development of industrial craft skills for students in career and technical education programs. Participants work on spec-built projects that are judged by industry experts, offering a chance to explore skilled trades career opportunities.

The team, led by James Love, welding program director at Galveston College, dedicated 230 hours over 19 weeks to prepare. The students trained at the Galveston College Applied Technology Center, where the college provided all necessary tools. The team consisted of various roles, including project manager, safety lead, schedulers, fitters, material managers, lead welders, and laborers.

Love expressed pride in the students' hard work and success, noting that the competition provided valuable industry experience. "This project gave them a true-to-life experience of working in the industry, from understanding individual roles to seeing how teamwork and communication are essential to success," he said.

Galveston College's Welding Technology program offers hands-on training in welding techniques and prepares students for careers in construction, manufacturing, and industrial fabrication. Through the Dual Credit program, high school students can earn college credits while gaining technical skills, preparing them for successful careers in the industry.

For more details on the Welding Technology program, visit Galveston College's website.