In an impressive display of craftsmanship and dedication, welding students from Samuel V. Champion High School successfully completed and unveiled a custom-made 5-foot by 15-foot gate for Martin Bros. Customs, the renowned custom vehicle building and fabrication company located in the Texas Hill Country.
This extraordinary project, led by instructor Dorman Vick’s ag mechanical-welding program, represents over 800 hours of meticulous work by the students throughout the 2023-24 school year.
The unveiling event, held Aug. 9 at the Champion ag mech-welding shop, drew a crowd of community members eager to witness the result of the students’ hard work.
The project was a testament to the students’ advanced skills and their ability to bring a complex vision to life, under the guidance and leadership of Vick, entering his 20th year at the program’s helm.
Martin Bros. Customs, operated by Joe and Amanda Martin, has gained national recognition as the stars of the hit TV show “Iron Resurrection.” The Martins have been long-time supporters of vocational education, consistently inspiring and encouraging students at Champion High School.
Their collaboration with the welding students on this project is a shining example of how industry partnerships can enhance educational experiences.
“Seeing our students take on such a significant project and deliver it with this level of excellence is incredibly rewarding,” Vick said. “It’s an honor to see their hard work recognized by industry leaders like Joe and Amanda Martin.”
The event provided an opportunity for the students to showcase their skills to the community and industry professionals, further solidifying the importance of vocational programs in high schools.
Just 10 days earlier, students in the program presented former Texas Gov. Rick Perry with the restoration of his late father’s 1992 Chevrolet pickup, another 2023-24 project Vick said took thousands of hours to complete.
Perry was caught by surprise at the July 30 presentation, touched by the sentiment of the truck and encouraged by the professionalism of the work.
“I had no idea this is what I was going to be looking at when I got it back,” Perry said. “I don’t think it even looked this good when he bought it new.”
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