Zamora headed to national welding competition

Carlos Zamora and his SKILLsUSA welding team won the New Mexico title. They are headed to the national competition next.
Russell Huffman | El Defensor Chieftain

Carlos Zamora’s last-minute decision to attend welding classes at Central New Mexico Community College was a great one. The 2021 Socorro High School graduate and his SKILLsUSA welding team are headed to the national competition after winning the New Mexico title.

“I was going to study diesel mechanics, and on the last day to schedule my classes, I said, you know what? I’m going to try welding first,” Zamora said. “And I am glad that I did. Welding is a select skill that most people can’t do, and you must be talented.”

Zamora and his teammates were the cream of the crop at the New Mexico SKILLsUSA competition, where they were required to take a 50-question test and then assemble a metal layout table in four hours.

The win has qualified CNM to represent New Mexico at the national competition in Georgia. While Zamora looks forward to competing, he also looks toward graduating and starting his career.

“I want to work in the industry for a little bit. I don’t know where I want to go toward that, but eventually, I want to return to Socorro and start my own business, teach welding, and become a welding inspector, too,” Zamora said. “I’m looking at a few places like Los Alamos. There’s a bunch of prototype work for the government, and they’ll send you to Hawaii to build stuff for them in different areas.”

It has taken Zamora two years to reach his goal of graduating and getting his associate degree in applied science and welding certificate. According to the website “Salary.com,” the average starting salary for a welder is $45,000 per year, and there is a demand.

With a state championship already in his pocket, winning the national title would be another star Zamora can add to his resume. It doesn’t hurt the atmosphere, much like the chemistry he found while playing center for the Socorro Warriors football team.

“The whole welding program, it’s not a bunch of people that are there for themselves. It’s almost like a family. We are all brothers and sisters. I love it. It brings back memories of football because of the teamwork, and everyone gets along,” Zamora said.

The son of Kyra Saaverda and Carl Zamora has also recognized the significance of his team’s state title.

“We’re just not representing the school. We’re representing the entire state of New Mexico,” Zamora said.