LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. — May 12, 2026 — Eleven welding students at Palm Beach State College transformed 325 pounds of raw steel into a towering symbol of American resilience, creating an eagle sculpture with a 6-foot wingspan as part of a statewide competition celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial.

The team spent more than 350 hours over three weeks crafting “Forged Freedom,” which was unveiled April 23 at Pruitt Plaza on the college’s Lake Worth campus. The sculpture was created for a welding and fabrication competition hosted by the Florida Department of Education to mark America’s 250th birthday on July 4.

Students used plasma cutting and MIG welding techniques to construct the piece, which blends technical skill with layered symbolism. The steel eagle, spanning 6 feet from wingtip to wingtip, stands atop three beams arranged in a tripod — representing the three branches of government and the constitutional promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The sculpture stands 7 feet, 7 inches tall including its base. The beams rest on uneven ground, symbolizing the nation’s endurance through civil war, economic hardship and social upheaval. Steel roses climb the tripod’s legs, their thorns signifying beauty forged through struggle.

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

The sculpture is a moving installation on the Lake Worth campus. Winners of the statewide competition will be announced by the Florida commissioner of education ahead of July 4.

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