Project MFG, Workshops for Warriors host welding championships in San Diego

By AI, Created 3:36 PM UTC, May 27, 2026, /AGP/ – Project MFG and Workshops for Warriors held back-to-back national welding championships in San Diego, awarding more than $180,000 in cash and scholarships to student competitors. The events showcased top welders from schools nationwide and aimed to bolster the skilled-trades pipeline as manufacturing demand grows.

Why it matters: - The championships put student welders in front of employers, educators and industry partners at a time when demand for skilled labor remains high. - The events also paired competition with scholarships and training opportunities that can help students turn welding talent into careers. - Project MFG says the programs are part of a broader effort to change perceptions of the skilled trades and strengthen the manufacturing workforce pipeline.

What happened: - Project MFG and Workshops for Warriors hosted the 2026 Maritime Welding National Championship and the National Welding League Championship in San Diego, California. - The two competitions brought together student welders from high schools, colleges and trade schools across the country. - The championships took place at Workshops for Warriors’ 21,000-square-foot advanced welding facility. - More than $180,000 in cash and scholarships was awarded during the event.

The details: - In the Maritime Welding National Championship, 17 finalists fabricated and welded a detailed model of an amphibious assault vehicle. - In the National Welding League Championship, 24 finalists built and welded a model of the Coronado Bay Bridge. - Competitors had eight hours to complete each project. - Cash prizes went to first through third place: $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500. - Workshops for Warriors awarded full scholarships worth about $35,000 each to the first through fourth place finishers in the Maritime Welding Championship after high school graduation. - The American Welding Society gave $1,000 scholarships to first-, second- and third-place winners in both championships. - Project MFG said finalists also visited the Maritime Museum of San Diego as part of the program. - The museum visit included the Star of India, which Project MFG described as the world’s oldest active sailing ship.

Between the lines: - The competitions were designed to test more than technical ability. They also highlighted endurance, focus and craftsmanship under pressure. - The pairing of championships, scholarships and museum programming suggests Project MFG is trying to make skilled-trades careers feel more visible and aspirational. - The events also reflect a push to present welding and manufacturing as high-value career paths rather than backup options.

What’s next: - Project MFG said fans will be able to watch the competitions this summer when Season 4 of Clash of Trades: National Welding League Edition and Season 3 of the Maritime Welding Championship stream exclusively on Project MFG’s YouTube channel. - Project MFG and Workshops for Warriors said they plan to keep expanding opportunities for skilled-trades students. - More information is available at ProjectMFG.com and on Project MFG’s YouTube channel.

The bottom line: - The San Diego championships turned welding competition into a workforce pipeline event, with cash, scholarships and national visibility all aimed at the next generation of skilled workers.