Miller Electric Mfg. Co and AWS honor Dalton Van with welding scholarship for UBTech students
By Stephanie Carter and Lezlee Whiting
An accomplished welder who earned both state and national recognition for his work will be remembered through a memorial scholarship at Uintah Basin Technical College.
Dalton Van, who graduated in 2019 from UBTech’s welding program, was killed in a one-vehicle rollover near Price on June 13. He was 19.
Dalton Van earned both state and national recognition for his work will be remembered through a memorial scholarship at UBTech. Miller Electric stated the donation is “in remembrance of Dalton, his hard work, and his dedication to the welding trade.”
After welding for just one year at the UBTech Training Center sponsored by Norco In. and Miller Electric Mtg. Co, Van earned the gold medal in welding at Utah SkillsUSA competition while representing UBTech. He repeated his performance as a senior, earning his second gold medal.
He went on to compete in welding at the National SkillsUSA contest where he earned a silver medal – and was ranked second place in the nation for his skills.
He later competed in the American Welding Society (AWS) Welding World Trials.
“Miller Electric called me as soon as they heard about the accident,” said UBTech President Aaron K. Weight.
“Jim Truett and Bryan Kwapis from Miller also reached out to me and have been amazing,” said Dalton’s father, Mike Van. “They gave me their condolences and said they wanted to help.”
Miller Electric Mfg. Co. and AWS will award a $1,000 scholarship each year for five years to welding students at UBTech in Dalton’s name, carrying on Dalton’s legacy.
Dalton Van became a two-time gold medalist in welding at the SkillsUSA Utah Leadership & Skills Competition in 2019. Miller Electric and American Welding Association will award a $1,000 scholarship each year for five years to welding students at UBTech in Dalton’s name, carrying on Dalton’s legacy.
AWS will be responsible for selecting the students and awarding the scholarship. To be eligible for the scholarship UBTech students must be enrolled full-time, or accepted to be enrolled, and working toward earning their 900-hour Welding Advanced Technician Certificate.
Miller Electric stated the donation is “in remembrance of Dalton, his hard work, and his dedication to the welding trade.”
“He accomplished so much, in such a short period of time,” said President Weight.
Van was a sophomore when he moved from Riverton to Roosevelt with his parents, Mike and Connie Van, and his little brother McKay. His dad, who worked in the oil field, had been commuting to the Uintah Basin for work, until they decided to make the move in 2017.
When his dad first learned about UBTech’s night welding class he thought it would be the perfect father and son activity. At the time, he had no idea it would turn into something so much more.
“The amount of opportunities Dalton has had in the Uintah Basin is mind blowing. Compared to Riverton and the Wasatch Front, there’s so much more out here in the Uintah Basin!” said Mike Van.
Dalton was a competitive young man and just as he had done in other endeavors, when he took up welding he was driven to become the best.
Classmate and fellow UBTech graduate Jordan Wynn, who competed in the AWS Welding World Trials with Van, praised him as a “natural talent” and said, “even as a sophomore, Dalton’s welds were just as good as the seniors.”
Dalton Van won Miller Electric’s Weld-Mask Scholarship Sweepstakes, receiving a $5,000 scholarship toward his welding education. Dalton was killed in a one-vehicle rollover near Price on June 13. Miller Electric and American Welding Association will award a $1,000 scholarship each year for five years to welding students at UBTech in Dalton’s name, carrying on Dalton’s legacy.
In addition to his SkillsUSA honors, Van also won Miller Electric’s Weld-Mask Scholarship Sweepstakes, receiving a $5,000 scholarship toward his welding education. He was attending Utah State University Eastern, to further his studies in welding.
But welding wasn’t his only passion. Van also competed in trap shooting, earning the title of 2019 National High School Final Rodeo Trap Competition champion. He was one point shy of a perfect score.
For more information and to apply for the Dalton Van Memorial Scholarship visit: https://www.aws.org/foundation/page/section-named-and-district-named-scholarships.
“The generosity of the community has been overwhelming,” said Connie Van. “Dalton must have made a big impact on Miller to inspire them to provide this opportunity. It’s amazing how something so tragic for us can be a savior for others.”
“Many doors opened for Dalton and it’s really thanks to UBTech,” said Mike Van. “Take advantage of it! Dalton did.”
“I sometimes shake my head when students don’t take advantage. Free tuition at a technical college while in high school is phenomenal,” Connie Van added.
Dalton Nolan Van Memorial Scholarship Information Click Here
