Disclosure: This article is based on information provided by the American Welding Society (AWS). Greatful Moments was not compensated for this article. We are sharing Mikala Sposito’s story because we believe stories about young people discovering their talents and finding opportunities in skilled trades are worth sharing with families.
Sometimes you don’t know what you’re capable of until someone gives you the opportunity to try something new. For Mikala Sposito, that opportunity came when she was just 10 years old. More than a decade later, she stood on an international podium in Shanghai with a bronze medal around her neck.
Sposito has made history as the first female welding competitor to represent the United States at WorldSkills and the first U.S. female welding medalist. The American Welding Society (AWS), which supported her journey as part of its work preparing U.S. competitors for WorldSkills, celebrated her achievement after the 2026 competition in Shanghai.
Sposito first discovered welding through the Careers in Welding Mobile Experience at a local Maker Faire when she was 10. Think about that for a moment.
She wasn’t necessarily sitting down at age 10 and deciding what career she wanted as an adult. She simply had an opportunity to see something new and try it. That experience sparked an interest that eventually led her to Washtenaw Community College, national SkillsUSA competitions and, ultimately, the WorldSkills stage.
That part of her story really stood out to me. As parents, grandparents and educators, we spend a lot of time thinking about what young people should learn. But sometimes one of the most important things we can do is give them opportunities to discover what they enjoy. A Maker Faire. A field trip. A career day. A community demonstration. A visit to a college. A chance to build, make, repair, create or work with something they’ve never tried before. We don’t always know where that first experience will lead.
Sposito earned her place on Team USA at the USA Weld Trials in Huntsville, Alabama, in March 2026, finishing first among three finalists. From there, the preparation became intense. Her seven-month preparation included international competitions and training in Australia, Canada and China, along with countless hours working in the welding lab at Washtenaw Community College.
At WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, that preparation paid off with a bronze medal in welding. But the medal represents more than a place on a podium. It represents years of learning, practice, competition, mentoring and perseverance. And it represents a milestone for women in the skilled trades.
When young people are asked to think about their future, conversations often revolve around traditional college degrees and familiar career paths. But there are so many other possibilities. Welding is one of the skilled trades that requires technical knowledge, precision, safety awareness, craftsmanship and tremendous focus. And Sposito’s story is a wonderful reminder that skilled trades aren’t simply something young people “fall back on.” They can become careers, competitions, educational opportunities and even international experiences.
WorldSkills is sometimes described as the Olympics of skilled trades, bringing talented young professionals together to compete in their areas of expertise. Sposito didn’t just participate. She made history. Another part of this story that shouldn’t be overlooked is the people who helped Sposito along the way.
She was coached by Washtenaw Community College welding instructor Alex Pazkowski, who knows what it takes to compete at WorldSkills. Pazkowski represented the United States at the 2013 WorldSkills Competition in Leipzig, Germany, where he earned a silver medal.
Thirteen years later, he was coaching his student to the podium. That is a pretty remarkable full-circle moment. Sposito’s WorldSkills journey was also supported by AWS, WCC instructors, coaches, mentors and fellow competitors. Talent matters. Hard work matters. But having someone who sees your potential and helps you develop it can make a tremendous difference.
Mikala Sposito’s story makes me think about all the young people who haven’t discovered their thing yet. Maybe it’s welding. Maybe it’s woodworking. Maybe it’s coding. Maybe it’s photography. Maybe it’s cooking, automotive technology, robotics, construction, art, music, agriculture or something none of us have even thought about. Sometimes the hardest part is simply getting the opportunity to try. That’s something I hope families will take away from this story.
Don’t be afraid to introduce children to things that aren’t necessarily part of their everyday world. Take them to a museum. Visit a Maker Faire. Explore a community college. Go to a career day. Watch someone demonstrate a trade. Let them build something. Let them take something apart and figure out how it works. Give them opportunities to ask questions. You never know when one little experience might become the beginning of something much bigger.
Mikala Sposito’s bronze medal is certainly worth celebrating. But I think the bigger story is the journey behind it. A 10-year-old girl discovered welding at a Maker Faire. She kept learning. She competed. She found mentors. She worked. She practiced. She persevered. And eventually, she stood on an international podium as a WorldSkills medalist. That’s a pretty powerful reminder of why opportunities matter. We don’t always know what a child will do with the opportunities we give them. But we can make sure they have the opportunity to discover what they can do.
Congratulations to Mikala Sposito on making history and bringing home a bronze medal from WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. And congratulations to all the instructors, mentors, coaches, family members and organizations that helped her get there. To learn more about welding careers, education and opportunities, visit the American Welding Society and its Careers in Welding resources.
Source: American Welding Society, October 2, 2026.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
