The American Welding Society (AWS) and SkillsUSA announced Mikala Sposito, a 21-year-old student from Ann Arbor, Mich., as the U.S. competitor in welding for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, which will be held September 22-27, in Shanghai, China. Sposito is the first woman to represent the United States in welding at WorldSkills, earning her spot by placing first at the USA Weld Trials in Huntsville, Ala. “Mikala’s achievement reflects the high standards required to compete on a global stage and shows that excellence in welding is open to everyone,” said Martica Ventura, senior manager for competitions, events and conferences, AWS. Sposito’s welding journey began at age 10 with a virtual demonstration at a Maker Faire.