On Saturday, more than 100 students from across the Public Schools of Robeson County put their skills to the test during the district’s Battle of Careers. The second annual competition featured students from the school system’s seven high schools, as well as students from the Career Center’s Trade and Industrial classes.

After each of the 17 events, students were judged on the demonstration of applied skills taken directly from learned Career Technical Education curriculum. Two of the students in the Soldering Showdown were Matt Branch, a senior at Fairmont High School, and Joseph McCormick, a junior at South Robeson High School.

McCormick, who won first place, says he really enjoys working with soldering tools.

“I have seen my grandfather work with this equipment for years and it has inspired me to enjoy soldering and other things of that nature,” he said.

McCormick says that he hopes to attend the University of North Carolina when he graduates from high school.

Branch said that he decided to take the soldering class as part of his future career.

“I plan to pursue a two-year degree from Robeson Community College and continue my education at Lincoln Technical College in Lincoln, Tennessee,” Branch said.

Soldering was among a slate of events that included Landscape Design, Frame by Frame Animation, Creating A Brochure, Culinary Food Art, Toys That Teach, Recycle and Redesign, CPR/First Aid, Health Careers Display, Promotional Billboard Presentation, Life Savers, Network Design, Welding, Engine Repair & Design, Building Our Future, Computer Assembly and Diagnostic Testing, Photoshop Design, 3D Modeling, Electrical Wiring, and The Final Four of Masonry & Safety Guards.

Herman Locklear, the Career Technical Education director for the Public Schools of Robeson County, says he hopes the event sparks an interest in students to choose a career and not a job.

“The Battle of Careers is designed for students to showcase their performances of the different career areas they are being taught in,” Locklear said. “It illustrates potential workers for the future.”

Battle of Careers took place at the Southeastern Agricultural Pavilion in Lumberton, and parents and business leaders attended the free event to watch the students perform.

Originally posted on The Robinsonian