Girls get hands-on with skilled trades
Underwater welders make “beaucoup money” is what Skyler Cox’s grandmother used to tell her, and now the off-hand advice has materialized into a prospective career path for the 16-year-old.
“She’s getting up there in age, but she’s still working,” Skyler said of her grandmother, who works in manufacturing, and shared how this matriarchal figure paved the way for her to begin doing what has traditionally been a male-dominated career field.
“It was a scary change for me,” she said, recalling when she first started classes at Penta, but then followed the direction of her grandmother and began welding. “I didn’t know any of this was possible, or out there.”
On Wednesday, Owens Community College, in collaboration with Penta Career Center, helped high school girls see what else was “out there” and “possible” through the Jill of All Trades career exploration event on Owens’ campus.
“For me, I didn’t have anything like this, and it definitely opens your eyes,” Brianna Haglan, a corporate quality manager for Owens Corning, said as one of the event’s mentors.
Ms. Halgan’s mother worked as a quality manager at a manufacturing plant, and stepping into her mother’s shoes, Ms. Haglan is now showcasing the construction possibilities for the next generation of women.
“I saw how much she loved her job,” she said.
And that kind of career modeling is not always available.
“We know the skilled trades disproportionately do not include women,” Dione Somerville, the president of Owens Community College, said.
“We want to make sure that they [girls from Penta] understand and have opportunities and are exposed to fields in the trades.”
Initially, Jill of All Trades began at Conestoga College in Ontario, Canada, as a way to meet the need of the “skilled trades shortage; boost interest in nontraditional trades sectors; and grow capacity and address gender diversity,” according to its website.
And what better way to introduce trades than to let people interact with them.
After a few speakers, Penta students were able to put their hands on the tools and know-how to preview careers in machining, construction, robotics, electrical tech, welding, and transportation tech.
“This allows us to help build upon one of our strengths for the sake of the region. ... Northwest Ohio is very strong in advanced manufacturing in the trades,” Ms. Somerville said.
She said some of the event’s sponsors are prospective future employers for students’ career paths. “The companies have provided mentors for all this,” Ms. Somerville said.
Many girls said the experience was helpful to try things out in a nonjudgmental environment.
“We feel more connected,” said Penta Student Rory McClain, 17. “So far, there’s a lot of girls who took interest, and we all came together.”
Whether it was building a wall, making a weld, or setting a route for a robotic hand, the girls were encouraged to step into a competent trade.
“I am extremely excited for their futures,” Ms. Haglan said. “There’s already interest, so this will further build upon that.”
As far as Skyler Cox is concerned, she is determined to become an underwater welder.
“I will do welding,” she said.
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