Two students from the Hinds Career and Technical Center won first place awards at the state level of Skills USA recently.

Kody Britt a senior from Warren Central High School, won first place at Skills USA State competition in CNC Precision Turning.

Britt, the son of Jennifer and Kody Britt, Sr., is a third-year student in Tommy Maples’ secondary precision machining class and a first0-year student in Allen Smith’s Career Pathways’ Experience class.

Nic Johnson a junior from Vicksburg High School, won first place in the Welding Sculpture Division at the Skills USA State Competition for his sculpture of an eagle.

Johnson, the son of Victor and Katrina Johnson, is a second year student in Joe Johnston’s welding class.

Johnson said his project took about two and a half months to complete.

“I made an eagle landing on a log,” he said. “I made the wings and the body using a cam plasma cutter.”

The eagle was symbolic of his journey with welding, Johnson said.

“I wanted to express how welding was to me and I wanted to express the way I felt,” he said. “I found the log the roots of my welding and my knowledge of welding, and the eagle represented me about to take off of the world after high school into more welding opportunities I’m about to be introduced into.”

Johnson said he learned how to make the project in his production welding class

“I’ve been watching my teacher throughout the year, and he taught us how to do it, and he let me do it on my own. I couldn’t have done it without my teacher showing me the different techniques of welding,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s mother, Katrina, said he learned a lot from his instructor, Johnston, and she was impressed by the piece since her son was only in his second year of welding.

“I really didn’t know that it was that elaborate,” she said. “I knew he had a good chance at it because his was impressive, it was majestic and it was a simple subject.”

Katrina Johnson said the family is very proud of Nic and how far he has come with welding.

“He played baseball for a long, long time, then he tried football,” she said. “Then he decided he’s not going to make any money at either one.”

Katrina Johnson said her son then decided to think about the future and what he could do now to benefit his future.

“I suggested he look at welding,” she said. “He needed a profession, a career, and welders make good money. He started welding class two years ago, and he likes it.”

Both students will go to the National Skills USA Competition in Louisville, Kentucky, with their instructors in June.