Chattooga Welding Team Forges Its Way to National Recognition with Silver Medal Finish

The Chattooga High School Welding Fabrication Team has forged its way into national recognition, earning a silver medal and second-place finish at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Championships after qualifying by winning the Georgia State Championship earlier this year.

The team of Cooper Hampton, Skyler Ward, and Landon Dawson represented Georgia in the Welding Fabrication competition, facing the top career and technical education students from across the nation. Their runner-up finish placed Chattooga among the best welding programs in the country and marked only the second time in school history that a welding fabrication team has reached the national podium.

Welding instructor Carter Woodall said the accomplishment reflects the team’s dedication and ability to perform under pressure.

“This is the second time I’ve been fortunate enough to have a welding fabrication team qualify for nationals, but it’s the first time for this team,” Woodall said. “They trusted their training, stayed focused, and performed at an incredible level. I couldn’t be more proud of what they accomplished.”

“To see a group that has only competed together twice earn a silver medal on the national stage is truly remarkable,” Woodall continued. “Combined with Gunner Henderson’s 10th-place finish in welding, it is a testament to the dedication of these students and the strong culture we’ve built within our program. Their hard work, commitment, and belief in one another led to an achievement they should be extremely proud of. I look forward to seeing what they accomplish next.”

The national silver medal adds another milestone to the growing success of Chattooga’s welding program, which continues to produce highly skilled students capable of competing with the best in the nation. The SkillsUSA National Championships bring together state champions from across the United States to showcase technical skills, craftsmanship, teamwork, and career readiness in front of industry professionals.

With a national silver medal in Welding Fabrication and a top-10 national finish from Henderson in the individual welding competition, Chattooga students once again demonstrated that a small Northwest Georgia school can compete with anyone in the country.