This Recent CNM Grad is Already Shaping the Next Generation of Welding Champions

Sebastiao “Sebi” Parker was wrangling shopping carts at a local Home Depot when he spotted a coworker fixated on a laptop behind the cash register. “YouTube?” Sebi asked, half-joking. “Welding homework,” the cashier smirked before turning back to his studies.

That got Sebi thinking and he did some digging.

“I didn’t have any plans for college,” Sebi says. “But welding sounded fun. At the time I figured I might as well apply to CNM and see where it takes me.”

Pretty far, it turns out. Sebi was fascinated with welding from the first day of his first class.

“My craftsmanship was rough at first,” he says. “But I got better and better. By the end of the program, I was at the top of my class.”

That was when it dawned on him. He’d found his passion.

Sebi completed his Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technologies just over a year ago. In 2025, he also won gold at the New Mexico SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference and went on to place fifth at the national level.

A few months later, Sebi accepted a welding faculty position at RioTECH High School.

“I’d never taught in my life and wasn’t confident it would be a good fit,” he says. “But I gave it a shot and I’ve learned so much over this first year. What points I need to hit better, what topics need extra focus. I’m always looking to improve my welding skills - now I want to improve as a teacher, too.”

To the average onlooker there doesn’t seem much Sebi could improve upon. Just this spring, Sebi trained up a team at RioTECH for the 2026 New Mexico SkillsUSA State Conference. His students brought home gold in both team and individual welding events, qualifying for the national competition this summer – just as their mentor did a year ago.

“I was way more nervous attending SkillsUSA as a coach,” Sebi says. “When you’re competing, you’re in control. All I could do was watch, trust, and fight back the urge to jump in and help.”

Two of Sebi’s students, Donn Palmer and Jacob Alderete, said the event was nerve-racking but also knew that they would do well thanks to the comprehensive training from Sebi.

“The hours Sebi worked with us outside of class made the difference,” Jacob says. “When you do a good job, he lets you know. When you don’t, he also lets you know. That’s why we did so well at the conference.”

“No matter how good of a weld we turn in,” Donn says, “there’s always room for improvement. You can always do better. It can always look better.”

Sebi and his team look forward to taking that drive and determination through to the national competition in Atlanta this summer.

Until then, they’re preparing and practicing while sparing a few moments to revel in the recent victory.