Xcel Strategies, a Savannah-based mentoring and vocational training network supporting trade education for students aged 15 to 25, expanded its hands-on career training exhibition, the Xcel Xpo, to include its annual welding competition. Xcel also announced the launch of a Manufacturing Lab at Bethesda Academy, which opened in January 2025.
The 2025 South Georgia Xcel Xpo, presented by Vaden Chevrolet Savannah, was held on Thursday, March 20, at Kehoe Iron Works at Trustees’ Garden.
Many students emerged as winners in various categories of the welding competition, showcasing exceptional skill and precision. Their mastery of the craft earned them prizes, solidifying their place as a leading talent in the field. Listed below are the various winners:
Individual Skills Challenges:
- Best Bead - Savannah Smith, Bryan County HS
- Xcel Logos - Caleb Childers, May River HS
- Vertical Fillet Weld - Savannah Smith, Bryan County HS
Team Sculpture, Amateur Division:
- 1st place winners - Murray Dinello and Gerardo Aguilar, Statesboro HS
- 2nd place winners - Ryleigh Bittner, Hannah Pepe, and Jaydon Luke, Statesboro HS
- 3rd place winners - Kyler Horton, Cade Newsum, Curtis King, and Nash Montgomery, Effingham County HS
Team Sculpture, Rising Stars Division:
- 1st winners - Grayson Lanning and Christian Fess, Battery Creek HS
- 2nd winners - Lucas Procida and Teddy Grogan, May River HS
- 3rd winners - Kathryn Schmidt and Trent Miller, May River HS
More than 220 students from Chatham, Candler, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty and Bulloch counties participated in the event. Local and regional companies set up interactive booths that allowed students to work on real-world projects and solve problems using the same tools professionals use every day. The students learned about the growing career opportunities in skilled trades, additional mentoring that Xcel offers, and digital resume-building provided by Xcel's Career Crafter portal.
Through the Career Crafter portal, Xcel streamlines the tracking of student mentor training, encompassing life skills, job skills, and trade skills. This digital resume system offers potential employers a readily accessible and dependable record of student accomplishments and educational qualifications, facilitating informed hiring decisions.
The addition of the welding competition, which has been a separate Xcel program for years, was added to the 2025 South Georgia Xpo to highlight the increased focus on fabrication and the urgent nationwide demand for properly trained welders. The opening of the lab comes on the heels of a successful 2024 that saw Xcel increase training with virtual reality tools, assisting Habitat for Humanity, and more hands-on training events than ever.
“We're trying to generate energy and excitement back into the field of welding. The demand for this skilled trade in the community and across the country is strong, and our young people respond well to competition,” said Jay Thompson, Founder and CEO of Xcel Mentoring. “The interactive booths from companies like Mitsubishi Power offer our students the chance to speak with employers, learn more about their needs, and network for future hiring,” he added.
Over the years, Xcel has used customized Mobile Training Unit trailers for hands-on interactivity at their events. These include woodworking, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work. For the first time, Xcel now has a permanent vocational training location at the venerable Savannah private day school, Bethesda Academy. The manufacturing lab opened for student use in January 2025 a special announcement about its continued growth will be made at the Xpo.
“The Vocational Training Laboratory at Bethesda allows Xcel to mentor students in CNC (Computer Numerical Control) manufacturing, which can be challenging in a Mobile Training Unit because of the size of the machine and the difficulty to transport. This new endeavor provides us the chance to mentor Xcel students with larger machines and equipment moving forward,” Thompson explained.
To learn more about Xcel Strategies, visit their website, xceltoday.com.
