USU Eastern Student Finishes as National Runner Up in WorldSkills USA Competition

In a competition that came down to a matter of a few points, Utah State University Eastern student Benjamin Cornaby finished as the national runner up in the 2026 WorldSkills USA Welding Trials, which took place earlier this year in Alabama.

Cornaby, who in his time at USU Eastern has been a two-time SkillsUSA collegiate national champion and a two-time WorldSkills USA silver medal winner, leaves the competition with a little disappointment but a lot of pride on the way he overcame a difficult start.

“I’m proud of the way I carried myself across the finish line so to speak,” he said. “I had a rough start to the competition with a few things not going the way I wanted them to. This was crushing in the moment because after all the research I’d done and the practice I’d put in, this was the competition which would determine if I went to WorldSkills or not.”

After the first day of the competition, Cornaby was understandably down on himself. He had put in months of hours-long training sessions through nights and weekends.

However, his coach and instructor helped him gain the perspective he needed to finish the competition on a high note. While first place proved out of reach, Cornaby was proud he was able to reset his mind and push to be his best.

“As we talked through everything, it was clear to me that I had lost sight of why I was doing this,” he said. “I love competing and I love making perfect welds on perfectly prepped joints — with the procedures that I had poured my blood, sweat and tears into during the last two and a half years. This was my story, and there was still work to do. If anyone was going to make a run for first place, knowing they were under the gun, it was me.”

Throughout his time at USU Eastern and in competition at the state and national level, Cornaby has proved a resilient and accomplished welder. He said that competitions brought out his best and that his time competing will be something he will remember forever.

Cornaby credits his time at USU Eastern and his instructors for guiding him to the many opportunities he found to learn, network and improve his skills. He said that through the many obstacles he faced while competing, he accomplished seemingly impossible things.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled looking back on what we accomplished,” he said. “Every day I was presented with a different challenge which I had to face head on. I’m thankful to my instructors for always giving me room to grow and try and fail. It’s a very valuable thing to learn.”

Cornaby also feels his time at USU has opened his eyes to all the opportunities for his career. He encouraged others who are contemplating welding as a career to consider USU Eastern and competing in these events.

“I believe there is always room to learn more and learn to be better,” he said. “I’m taking that mindset into the workforce right now and into my continued education later on as I intend to be a welding engineer. Welding is something I will always hold onto, and competing has changed my life for the better. I would encourage others to step up to the challenge and see how far it can take you.”

Located in picturesque Price, Utah State University Eastern provides the best of both worlds for students­ — the personalized attention and small student-to-faculty ratio of a small-town college, with the educational opportunities and resources of a large university. USU Eastern boasts student government opportunities, clubs and programs like theater, choir and the award-winning student newspaper “The Eagle,” as well as its own athletic program. USU Eastern provides personal or professional development training, technical education in Health Professions, Technical Careers and Business, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees and certificates of proficiency. Learn more at eastern.usu.edu.