By Shelby Ruud Jarman | Utah State University | Photo courtesy of Utah State University Eastern

Two Utah State University Eastern welding students earned top honors at the annual SkillsUSA Utah state competition, demonstrating both technical mastery and creative innovation.

Benjamin Cornaby took first place in the welding fabrication category, while Colton Willes earned second place in the welding sculpture division.

Fire Without Burnout

Cornaby has been competing in welding contests since high school, and his intense training schedule — sometimes 60 to 80 hours in the shop each week — helped build his reputation as one of the best. But this year, he took a different approach.

“I realized that kind of schedule wasn’t sustainable,” he said. “I had to focus on my mental health and find a better balance with friends, family and hobbies.”

That mental shift paid off. Even with fewer hours of prep time, Cornaby executed clean, confident welds and took home the gold. His solid foundation of welding skills and support from his welding instructors helped him stay focused under pressure.

“The actual competition isn’t what’s hard,” he said. “It’s coming in day after day to train. If you’re not careful, you can burn yourself out before you even get to compete.”

Jake Clement, USU Eastern welding instructor, provided support and mentorship inside and outside the shop.

“We’re doing Olympic-level stuff at this point,” Clement said. “The hardest part isn’t the welding. It’s keeping yourself in a good mental place to keep showing up, day after day. That’s where Ben has really grown.”

With his sights set on the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta the end of June and eventually WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai, Cornaby gradually ramped up his training schedule again.

Clement believes he might be one of the strongest contenders the U.S. has seen in years.

“He’s got the experience, he listens, he takes notes, he digs deeper,” Clement said. “He’s just got something special.”

Sparks Meet Story

While Cornaby showcased technical mastery in the individual welding competition, Colton Willes combined art and welding in the sculpture competition.

In USU Eastern’s first-ever entry into the welding sculpture category, Willes earned second place with a personal piece titled “The Last Ride.”

The sculpture depicts a bucking horse in mid-motion, based on a real-life experience.

“She got excited and started bucking,” Willes said. “Next thing I knew, I was flying off her back, sliding across the ground, watching her keep running full speed. It was wild, and I wanted to capture that energy and action in the sculpture.”

Willes spent over 120 hours welding and shaping every detail, from the horse’s posture and muscles to a saddle that included nearly every element found on the real thing.

“The more detail you can capture, the more you can make it feel real,” he said.

Unlike the individual welding event, the sculpture competition includes an interview portion, where students present their work and explain the concept and craftsmanship behind it.

“It’s like a job interview,” Willes said. “You’re not just showing your weld, you’re selling your idea, craftsmanship and effort. I really liked being able to tell the judges what it meant to me.”

Willes hopes to return next year and win gold.

“This kind of competition opens your eyes to what welding can really be,” he said. “You’re not just building structures. You can tell stories. You can bring anything to life.”

Continuing the Legacy

Cornaby and Willes are the latest in a long line of successful competitive welders from USU Eastern who have earned statewide and national recognition. In recent years, several have represented the U.S. in WorldSkills competition and earned silver and bronze medals. They represent the core values that define USU Eastern’s welding program: passion, perseverance and a commitment to excellence.

“Welding is technical, yes,” Clement said. “But it’s also emotional. Whether you’re chasing a world title or honoring a memory, you’re creating something that matters, and that’s what we’re proud of here.”

Competitions like SkillsUSA not only recognize talent, they also simulate the challenges students will face in the workforce. From working under pressure to presenting their work professionally, USU Eastern students leave better prepared for welding careers in a wide range of industries.

“The medals are just chunks of metal. What matters is what these students become through the process,” Clement said. “When I see what students like Ben and Colton are capable of, it makes me excited for the future of this field.”