The awards recognizes the people, organizations and businesses that have played a role in making the welding industry interesting to newcomers and respected in their communities, and have helped to make advances in the industry through their efforts.

BA total of 23 awards were made in seven categories to individuals, educators, organizations, businesses and AWS sections that demonstrated the drive, commitment, integrity, professionalism, involvement and perseverance necessary to help to promote this industry to young people and to others in their respective communities, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The winners are listed in their respective categories as follows:

Individuals Category: Barbara Henon, Lisa Legohn, Clyde Shetler, Ray Wilsdorf James Owens and Richard Bryant all served as an inspiration to their peers and continue to motivate others in their field.

Educator's Category: Jim Goetz, Roy Lanier, Lisa Legohn, Jim Burnett, James Owens and Ralph Young, for their outstanding dedication to welding education and providing high quality instruction.

Educational Facility Category: Bucks County Technical High School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania; Monroe 2 Orleans BOCES Career and Technical Education Center in Livonia, New York; Odessa College Welding Training Center in Odessa, Texas; Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa; and Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. These winners all strived for excellence in enhancing their students' learning experience.

Small Business Category: The Advanced Science and Automation Corporation in Indianapolis, Indiana, developed a virtual welding lab to teach welding at low cost; and the Westfield Steel Co. in Westfield, Indiana, supported welding education and donated steel for welding competitions.

Large Business Category: A&B Process Systems in Stratford, Wisconsin. The 25-year old company that has implemented community outreach for welders, promotional efforts at local, state and national levels.

AWS Section Category: Tulsa and Western Carolina Sections both won the AWS Section category. Tulsa Section performed extensive work on welder shortages, and Western Carolina's Bob Humphrey and Bob Fellers worked with support of local industries to revive the section.

Distributor Category: Rywal-RHC Ltd., founded by Robert Pyka.

The company is receiving this award for its accomplishments in modernizing the Polish market, breaking barriers of socialist ideologies, and motivating teams into collaborative work.

The Image of Welding Awards ceremony was one of the many events organized by American Welding Society for the Fabtech International and AWS Welding show.

The awards were determined by the AWS Welding Equipment Manufacturers' Committee, a standing committee of the American Welding Society.

The committee is comprised of executives from welding industry suppliers to promote the welding equipment market. Enhancing the image of welding as a critical industry is amongst the committee's priority programs. For more information on WEMCO membership and benefits, visit the committee's Internet site at www.aws.org/wemco.