PBSC welding students create eagle statue for America’s 250th anniversary

A team of 11 welding students at Palm Beach State College set out to transform raw metal into a symbol of the nation’s past and future. The students took part in a statewide welding and fabrication competition hosted by the Florida Department of Education to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

The students unveiled their statue, titled “Forged Freedom,” on April 23 at Pruitt Plaza on the Lake Worth campus. The eagle sculpture took more than three weeks to complete, totaling about 350 hours of work. It stands 7 feet, 7 inches tall, spans about 6 feet wide and weighs 325 pounds. Students used plasma cutting and MIG welding to construct the piece.

“There’s nothing better than our trades community doing work that applies to real life skills,” said Kimberly Lea, Palm Beach State College dean of workforce education and development. “But more than that, this is a testament to teamwork, collaboration and technical skills all coming together in a very beautiful way.”

Todd Rowley, the lead welding instructor on the project, said the competition gave students a chance to apply their skills in a collaborative, real-world setting.

“I’m proud of the students for doing such a good job stepping up and working together to pull together the project from start to finish,” Rowley said.

Each element of the statue carries symbolic meaning. The steel eagle, with a 6-foot wingspan, nods to the material used to build the nation’s bridges, warships and skyscrapers. The sculpture rests on three beams arranged in a tripod, representing the three branches of government as well as the constitutional promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The beams stand on uneven ground, symbolizing the nation’s endurance through challenges such as civil war, economic collapse and social injustice. Steel roses climb the tripod’s legs, their thorns representing beauty achieved through struggle and reflecting the weight of American sacrifice.

“Creating this project for America’s 250th anniversary means everything — as an American, as a patriot and as someone who enjoys seeing their art celebrated by everybody,” said Tim George, one of the welding students who worked on the sculpture. “I hope people feel patriotic when they see it. I hope they feel happy to be in America, happy to be part of the country and hopeful.”

The sculpture is a moving installation on the Lake Worth campus. Winners of the statewide competition will be selected by the Florida commissioner of education and announced ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.