Welding instructor Shane Kern of the Southeastern Technical Academy for Rural Students, known as STARS, has quickly built a reputation for having some of the most talented young welders in the region. The stars facility in Pleasanton is only in its second year of existence, but its welding team of talented high school students has won numerous awards. Last year, the team won the annual spring competition in Garden City with two of its senior members finishing in a tie for first place. This year’s competition took place April 10, and Kern knew he once again had a strong team capable of taking first place.
This year, Louisburg junior Brogan Maggio earned a spot on the competition team, along with Jayhawk-Linn senior Alayna Swearingen and Jayhawk-Linn senior Dylan Rogers. Louisburg senior Kael McDermet was the alternate. Maggio and Swearingen tied for first place at the competition, with Swearingen winning the tie breaker, becoming the first woman to ever win the event. The Garden City competition featured welding teams from Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado.
