Mikala Sposito is 21 years old, studies at a community college in Michigan, and is about to become the first woman ever to represent the United States in welding at the WorldSkills Competition — sometimes described as the Olympics of the skilled trades.
How she got here
Sposito's interest in welding started early: at age 10, she tried a virtual welding demonstration at a Maker Faire. That early spark eventually turned into a serious pursuit — she won the 2024 SkillsUSA Michigan state championship, then spent the past two years training 60 to 80 hours a week at Washtenaw Community College under instructor Alex Pazkowski, himself a former WorldSkills silver medalist.
She secured her spot on Team USA by winning the USA Weld Trials at the Robotics Technology Park in Huntsville, Alabama, placing first overall after three rounds of qualifying competition.
What's next
The 48th WorldSkills Competition runs September 22-27, 2026, in Shanghai, China, bringing together young competitors from dozens of countries across dozens of trade categories. Sposito is one of six WorldSkills qualifiers to come out of Washtenaw Community College — more than any other single institution in the country.
Why it matters
Welding remains a heavily male-dominated trade, and Sposito's selection is being noted as a milestone for women pursuing skilled-trade careers in the U.S. She'll be competing on an international stage against some of the most skilled young welders in the world.
