John Ricci and Lakeland welding program coordinator Ryan Eubank

Lakeland Community College welding student John Ricci advanced to the WorldSkills welding finals this week, after being named champion in the final round of the SkillsUSA welding competition in Huntsville, Alabama.

Ricci and Lakeland Welding and Fabrication Technology program coordinator and instructor, Ryan Eubank, traveled to Huntsville for the four-day competition. The competition had been narrowed to four welders from across the United States, each competing for the chance to represent the United States in the WorldSkills competition in China in October 2022.

“We could not be more proud of John,” said Eubank. “He has been competing for a year to reach the SkillsUSA finals, and together we have been working 10 hours a day, four to five days a week since he was invited to compete last fall.”

In addition to working toward earning his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Welding and Fabrication Technology, Ricci will continue training, now for the WorldSkills competition with Eubank as his coach, both looking to bring home a championship for Team USA and Lakeland come October.

Ricci’s aspiration is to become a certified welding inspector in the construction field and to teach welding at the college level.

ABOUT SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 300,000 member students and instructors in middle schools, high schools and colleges each year. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. Learn more at www.worldskillsusa.org.

By: Adam Continenza, Mktg and Communications Spclst