03.07.09 01:35 Age: 141 days Wallace State - National Champion Again! Joey Foster Takes SkillsUSA Gold Medal Category: Headlines, July 2009 CONTACT: Russell Moore, Staff Writer, Wallace State Communications and Marketing, 256/352-8443, russell.moore@wallacestate.edu
Foster was introduced to the welding profession at a young age after hanging out at his stepfather’s welding shop twice a week. Now, at 21, the Locust Fork native is on the path to a successful welding career of his own and, as the college’s current marketing campaign states, “a life less ordinary.” “Joey is a great example for Wallace State students. His goals and accomplishments are of the kind all students should aspire to,” said Wallace State Dean of Technical Education Dr. Philip Cleveland.
He is the second national champion from Wallace State at the SkillsUSA event, joining 2003 machine tool technology gold medalist Matthew O’Neal. As a two-time state champion, this was Foster’s second trip to the national stage. “I worked and worked as hard as I could for this,” Foster said. “Ever since the national competition in 2008 when I came in fifth, I had been practicing and told myself I was going to finish first the next time around. I treated it like a business trip and went there to get the job done because it’s something I’m good at. It was exciting to get it done.” A graduate of Locust Fork High School in Blount County, Foster earned his diploma from the welding program at Wallace State in May, and returned to take extra classes this summer in preparation for the national competition. At the Skills USA Championship event, held each summer at Kansas City’s Kemper Arena, Foster and the nation’s top career and technical students in welding were judged on both written and performance-based tests. In his division, Foster competed against winners from 38 states who qualified for nationals in welding. Foster felt his previous experience in Kansas City was an advantage this time around. “I worked on a lot of things I learned from last year,” Foster said. “I felt pretty confident I had won this time, but it was close. I wound up winning by five points.” Wallace State welding instructor Jim Thompson had a feeling the relentless work by Foster would pay dividends at the national event. “Joey had one goal in mind. When you have experience in anything it always helps, but he’s a hard worker,” said Thompson. “It takes a lot of dedication to achieve what Joey did. He works a full-time job as well and always carries a good attitude. “I’m proud of him and so is Wallace State. There’s no doubt about it.” Foster participated in a technical program in high school and acquired a job at AAR Summa Technology in Cullman before he decided to pursue a degree in welding. “I didn’t know anything about career advancement or how to get a good job before I went to the vocational school. After I worked for a year or so, I switched from first to second shift in order to go to college,” Foster said. “I talked with plenty of schools and plenty of people in Alabama and they said Wallace State was the place to go and Mr. Jim Thompson was one of the best welding instructors in Alabama. I believe he is the best. He has helped Wallace State win state five years in a row. “Wallace State has helped me so much,” Foster said. “It’s given me great opportunities, helped me get my name out there and given me some great career advancement possibilities. I’m just trying to show everyone what I can do and what I’m going to do.” Foster’s goals include using his welding career as a way to travel the world. He’s already been to several continents, and if he is successful at the SkillsUSA pre-world competition in Chicago in November 2010, he’ll advance to the international competition in London in 2011. The top seven finishers at the pre-world level advance to that event. Because of his hard work and high ambitions, he was singled out for recognition at the Wallace State graduation ceremonies in May. “Joey is one of our shining stars,” said Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Hawsey. “In welding, work can be found all over the world—it is a field where the common language is professional excellence, and it will afford Joey the flexibility to pursue his passion for travel. Joey intends to have a meaningful career doing something he loves, and that’s what we want for every graduate.” In fact, Foster gave a speech for a recent class titled “Getting Paid to Do What You Love.” “That’s what I tell people--I’m getting paid to do something I truly love to do,” he said, echoing Hawsey’s remark. In the immediate future, Foster plans to continue to work at AAR Summa, which he credits as an ardent supporter, while pursuing his Certified Welding Instructor (CWI) credential. That credential, Thompson said, is a lofty goal for someone at such a young age but he doesn’t doubt Foster’s ability to accomplish it. He has already been approached with multiple job offers since his national win. Foster will also continue to be an advocate for the welding program at Wallace State. “There are people a little younger than me at work right now and I’m preaching to them to go to Wallace State and learn more about it. It’s a great career move,” he said. Enrollment in Wallace State’s career technical division is booming – up more than 30 percent this summer. Several students in the Wallace State’s Technical Division earned high marks at the state SkillsUSA competition this year. Following Foster in the welding division was a second-place finish for Bremen’s Seth Russell. Dustin Lane, of Bremen, earned second place in the machine tool technology division, while Vinemont’s Andrew McKoy placed third. In cosmetology, Wade Brewer, of Warrior, won second place in men’s haircutting; Hanceville’s Bridget Floyd won third in cosmetology and Cullman’s Pippa Abernathy earned third place in esthetics. For more information about these or other programs offered at Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu. Registration for fall semester begins July 20. Classes begin August 19. PHOTO attached -
Joey Foster displays several of SkillsUSA medals as part of his graduation regalia. Other elements of his regalia include a gold cord indicating graduation with honors, the welding program award medal, and a gold collar representing membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Kristen Holmes
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