Mikala Sposito is about to make history. The 21-year-old from Dexter, Michigan, will be the first woman to represent the United States in welding at the WorldSkills Competition in China. She will compete in September.
Sposito, a student at Washtenaw Community College, earned the spot by winning the USA Weld Trials in Huntsville, Alabama earlier this year. She described the competition as very close but said she made it to Shanghai.
WorldSkills is described as the Olympics of skilled trades. It determines the global best in technical disciplines that include construction, information technology, manufacturing and robotics. And of course welding.
Sposito is the sixth Washtenaw Community College student to qualify in WorldSkills history. The college has produced more WorldSkills welding alums than any other school in the United States.
Alex Pazkowski is Sposito's instructor and mentor. Pazkowski finished second in 2013. He accompanied her to the American championships in Alabama and will coach her at competitions from Canada to Australia before WorldSkills.
Sposito practiced 80 hours per week at Washtenaw Community College. She said she has a long hard road ahead of her. But she said if she succeeds it will open up all kinds of doors.
Sposito said she looks forward to putting her skills against the worlds best. She also looks forward to traveling abroad. She has not done this previously.
On the first woman aspect Sposito said she does not see the gender aspect of it. She said welding does not take any brute strength or anything. She said welding is very fine and precise.
Sposito does recognize women are minority participants in a discipline she fell in love with at age 10. She said if her success helps pave the way for future welders then all the better.
Being the first female to do it is very cool said Sposito. Her near term goal is to earn her bachelor's degree in welding engineering at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Long term she might like to follow in Pazkowski's footsteps and teach at WCC. Either way she said she is happy to be inspirational for many women in the trades who have possibly struggled.
WorldSkills determines the globe's best in technical disciplines. Sposito will be evaluated on technical execution and craftsmanship under stiff time constraints and stringent international standards.