Lexicon, Inc. Hosts 140 Central Arkansas Students for Welding Competition in Honor of Steel Day
American Welding Society to award overall winner a $1,000 welding scholarship
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 30, 2025) – Lexicon, Inc. hosted Steel Day in collaboration with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the American Welding Society (AWS) at its new, 40,000-square-foot Custom Metals shop in the Port of Little Rock. The centerpiece of the day’s festivities was a live welding competition, which offered students from across Central Arkansas the hands-on opportunity to explore welding careers, showcase their technical skills and experience the critical role of the steel industry in Arkansas.
Prominent guests, including Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, U.S. Representative Rick Crawford and Devin Huber, director of research at AISC, delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of workforce development in the welding and steel sectors.
“Steel Day gives students the chance to see the power of their skills in action — and to imagine a future where they can build America from right here in Arkansas,” said Lexicon, Inc. CEO Patrick Schueck. “We’re proud to partner with AWS and AISC to highlight how welding and fabrication open doors to lifelong, high-paying careers. These students are the future of our industry.”
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin praised the initiative’s role in promoting workforce development, saying, “Arkansas’s steel industry continues to thrive, and it’s one of the most dynamic in the country. Programs like Steel Day provide young people the exposure and encouragement they need to pursue meaningful, good-paying careers that strengthen both our economy and our communities.
Students from Cabot High School, Jacksonville High School, Metropolitan Career-Technical Center, Mills University Studies High School, North Little Rock High School and UA Pulaski Tech participated in the event. Participants showcased their technical skills in timed welding challenges, with top performers from each school earning prizes and the overall winner receiving a $1,000 welding scholarship from AWS.
Student winners included:
- Cabot High School: Dayden Norwood
- Jacksonville High School: Kenneth Harper
- Metropolitan Career-Technical Center: Joseph Mendoza
- Mills University Studies High School: Diego Solis
- UA–Pulaski Technical College: Dame Goodwin
The overall winner of the $1,000 scholarship from AWS will be announced at a later time.
Congressman Rick Crawford commended Lexicon’s efforts to highlight the national importance of technical training, saying, “The future of American manufacturing depends on skilled trades like welding. When companies like Lexicon create opportunities like Steel Day, they’re not just supporting Arkansas, they’re helping sustain our nation’s strength and competitiveness.”
As the U.S. welding industry faces a critical shortage of skilled workers — with tens of thousands of positions open nationwide — Steel Day continues to serve as a bridge between education and employment, inspiring students to explore rewarding technical careers.
In addition to participating in the welding competition, students toured Lexicon’s new Custom Metals shop, experienced forklift and welding simulators and enjoyed lunch provided by Nucor-Vulcraft.
