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October 13, 2026
Newsletter ArticleMikala Sposito, a 21-year-old SkillsUSA Michigan champion and student at Washtenaw Community College, earned a bronze medal in the Welding competition at the prestigious 48th WorldSkills Competition held Sept. 22–27 in Shanghai. Widely recognized as the "Olympics of Skilled Trades," the international event brings together top young professionals from across the globe.
Sposito made history as the first female competitor ever to represent the United States in the Welding category at WorldSkills. She qualified for the team through her performance at the national SkillsUSA Championships, followed by a rigorous series of welding trials administered by the American Welding Society (AWS).
To prepare for Shanghai, Sposito spent thousands of hours in intensive training under the guidance of her dedicated technical expert, Ray Connolly. Her journey was supported by industry partners including AWS and Lincoln Electric.
"Mikala represents the pinnacle of American skilled talent,” said Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA. “Her dedication to her craft and precise technical skills are truly remarkable. She and the rest of the WorldSkills USA Team are shining examples of American career and technical education and the workforce talent driving our economy."
Held every two years, the WorldSkills Competition hosted nearly 1,400 competitors from 73 countries and regions competing in 64 trade skills this year. SkillsUSA has served as the official U.S. representative to WorldSkills since 1973.
To learn more about the WorldSkills USA team, visit worldskillsusa.org
