(Lancaster, PA) —  Three students majoring in Computer Integrated Machining at Thaddeus Stevens College took home a $100,000 prize from a competition amongst colleges across the country. Shaun Hershey, Trevor Masterson, and Hayden Telford came out on top in Project MFG’s Clash of the Trades hosted in Huntsville, Ala.

Project MFG is a national tournament-style competition series elevating the next generation of skilled trades professionals. The Advanced Manufacturing competition known as Clash of the Trades challenges teams of college students on integrated manufacturing processes, including 5-axis CNC machining, additive manufacturing and metrology, while navigating real-world curveballs like change orders, project delays and tight deadlines, all in pursuit of a final product built to precise specifications. This year’s competition was automation themed.

Teams competed in a qualifying round in the fall, and then 16 teams from across the U.S. advanced to the regional competitions. The four team winners from the regional rounds, including the three Thaddeus Stevens College students, advanced to the national level. Each competition included students working as a team in a high-pressure timeframe. Teams are judged on the final product as well as the techniques and tools they used to create it.

From Thaddeus Stevens College, Hershey hails from Quarryville along with Masterson, and Telford’s hometown is Greensburg, Pa. All three were enrolled in the school’s two-year associate degree program and graduated shortly after they participated in Clash of the Trades. Each one received a portion of the $100,000 prize, and some of the funds also went directly back to the college’s academic program to invest in future attendees.

“This tremendous accomplishment showcases what hands-on technical education can produce: not only skilled tradespeople, but national champions ready to lead the next generation of our workforce,” said Pedro A. Rivera II, president of Thaddeus Stevens College. “It takes a combination of intensive skill, grit and attention to planning and strategy to rise to the top of such a high-stakes situation.”

(left to right) Hayden Telford, Trevor Masterson, and Shaun Hershey at the national Project MFG Clash of the Trades.

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An acclaimed residential two-year college in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is an accredited technical college dedicated to preparing students for high-demand careers with family-sustaining wages. Founded in 1905 with 15 students, Thaddeus Stevens College has grown to more than 1,400 students and 24 high-skill technical and trade degree programs. Through its mission, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology breaks down barriers that perpetuate educational inequities and creates access to a college degree. Committed to the legacy of its benefactor, Thaddeus Stevens, the college serves as an instrument of change in the lives of its students, graduates and employees who, in turn, impact change on businesses, industries and communities across Pennsylvania and beyond. stevenscollege.edu