The U.S. maritime industrial base is working to transform its nuclear-powered submarine fleet and maintain its critical undersea advantage. To make this transformation possible, more than 100,000 tradespeople, especially welders, with the skills, training and commitment to excellence will be needed.
The Extreme Trades Makeover: Future Welders competition aims to help meet the need for skilled welders by awarding three deserving Alabama public high school vocational/trades teachers with $30,000 in welding equipment packages or other upgrades to help their students learn this highly sought-after skill.
“The maritime industrial base relies heavily on skilled welders to maintain a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and other vessels critical to the defense of our country,” said Jennifer Tyrell, ORAU associate manager for K-12 STEM Education. “As a generation of welders retire, the demand for newly trained welders increases, creating a growing need for skilled tradespeople. The Extreme Trades Makeover: Future Welders program hopes to help fill that need by inspiring and better equipping a new generation of these talented and skilled individuals.”
To be eligible for the competition, teachers must:
- Be employed by a public school located in Alabama.
- Actively teach welding to high school students or plan to teach welding to high school students in the 2026-27 school year.
- Submit a creative, 3-4-minute video that highlights the need for welding equipment or other upgrades and their potential applications in your classroom.
- Additional information, including the application and video-submission portal can be found on the Extreme Trades Makeover competition website.
- Deadline to submit video applications is Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
- Winners will be announced in March/April 2026.
The winner will be determined by a panel of educators, welding industry professionals, and program staff. Entries will be judged on how well they:
- Clearly articulate the imperative for innovation, evolution, and creation of new and existing welding programs and pathways.
- Effectively showcase how the new equipment or other upgrades will be utilized to enhance student learning.
- Display creativity and originality in the video submission.
- Provide a thoughtful explanation of the teaching philosophy or approach that will expand welding education and inspire students to pursue careers in the field.
Questions about Extreme Trades Makeover: Future Welders? Email us at ExtremeTrades@orau.org.