CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Welding Gala showcases capstone projects, award recipients from welding programs

Conestoga hosted its annual Welding Gala to honour outstanding students in the college's welding programs and showcase capstone projects.

The 2025 event held with support from the Kitchener chapter of the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Association at the IV Loft at Four Fathers Brewing in Cambridge on April 9 brought together students, alumni, faculty and industry representatives to celebrate the students' achievements. 

"Events like the Welding Gala create real opportunities," said Erin Camm, program manager in the School of Engineering & Technology. "When students connect with alumni, staff and industry partners that see their potential, it boosts their confidence and inspires them to aim higher. These connections often lead to jobs, co-ops, or even long-term career paths. At Welding Gala, you can feel the excitement in the room, knowing doors are opening for the future."

Award recipients: 

• Alliance Fabricating Ltd. Summit Award - Valerie De Rechter 
• Bessey Tools North America Award - Zhibin Xiong 
• Cody Dibble Memorial Award in Welding - Carter Payne and Cara Lychek 
• Automation in Welding Excellence Award - Victoria Winter 
• Welding Excellence Award - Lasal Nanediri Senanayake 
• Magna Scholars - Laiba Awan 
• Mariani Metal Fabricators Ltd. Welding & Metal Fabrication Awards - Grace Brown, Jessica Lalande and Jacob Devaux 
• Meridian Manufacturing Program Award - Skyler Olsen-Kent 
• Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries Awards - Hannah Whiting and Emily Ellis 
• Rolmaster Conveyors - Brad Hamilton 
• Walters Group Inc. Awards - Trinity Wheeler, Aidan Yedlinski and Emma Day 
• Weld-A-Rama Group of Companies Inspection Award - Helana Hope 
• CWB-A Kitchener Chapter, Andy McCartney Awards - Max Goehrum  
• Alex Arrowside Award - Jessica Nippard 
• CWB-A Conestoga College Student Chapter Metal Fabrication Award - Kyle Stiller.

Conestoga has the most comprehensive program offering in the high-demand field of welding, metal fabrication and welding engineering technology in Ontario. The college offers a guide to assist potential students in understanding the key differences between programs. 

Primary programs include: Welding Engineering Technology - Inspection, Manufacturing Engineering Technology Welding and Robotics, Welding Techniques, Welding and Fabrication Technician, Welder (Apprenticeship) and Metal Fabricator (Apprenticeship).