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What appears to be a small metal briefcase sits on a table among several sculptures of houses, animals, and plants. It’s not something you would typically associate with welding, with copper straps and real latches and hinges holding it closed. When opened, inside is a model record player, complete with a needle, dials, and a metal record that spins.

Ayden Kaps had been tinkering on his welding sculpture since October, and put in over 150 hours on it. It doesn’t play music, but it didn’t have to for judges at the Nebraska State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference to give him a gold medal.

“I’m aware of my abilities, I’m a decent welder,” Kaps said. “So why not make something fun? I really enjoy making cool stuff.”

Kaps found his passion for welding when he signed up for a welding class his freshman year at Sutherland High School. He then followed that passion along with his love of wrestling to Southeast Community College, where he balanced his time between living on the Beatrice campus for wrestling and taking courses in the Welding Technology Center in Lincoln.

“My instructors definitely prepared me for a lot,” Kaps said. “You really get a lot of experience and it is kind of nice because you get out as much as you put in. The instructors will help you, but they’re going to make sure you can do it on your own.”

When Kaps graduated high school, he wasn’t sure he wanted to go to college. He had an apprenticeship lined up at TK’s Welding and Fabrication in North Platte. When he visited campus, Wrestling Head Coach Terry Pack gave him a chance.

“He said he could teach anyone to wrestle, and that they were looking for character,” Kaps said. “He made sure, no matter how good you were, everyone was treated the same. I was treated the same as the starters, and it was an incredible experience.”

Competing on the wrestling team while pursuing his education meant a lot of sacrifices for Kaps. He commuted from Beatrice to Lincoln most days,

“There’s definitely pros and cons of doing both,” Kaps said. “Wrestling and welding are two things that beat your body up, and I’ve had to deal with that. It’s one of those combinations that on paper might not go together, but wrestling has made the welding side look easy, and the discipline from it is always going to help me.”

On May 5, Kaps walked across the stage at Pinnacle Bank Arena to receive his Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology. After graduation, he’ll continue working at TK’s Welding.

In June, he’ll be taking his record player sculpture to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta.

“I’ve kind of had a plan from the get-go, but SkillsUSA definitely pushed me towards having a little hobby business on the side,” Kaps said. “It pushed me towards fabricating, but then also having something to keep your soul alive.”

Damon Bennett
Activities Information Director
402-437-2077
dbennett@southeast.edu