Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
ELEANOR TIZIANI, back to the camera and Levi Svoke, student teacher, assess the welds and quality of the work on Eleanor's project.
By IAN MINIELLY
Ironwood - Paulette Niemi, Career Technology Educator for the Gogebic Ontanogan Intermediate School District held the fourth annual Women in Welding class at Luther L. Wright K-12 school. Girls from Wakefield-Marenisco, Bessemer, and Ironwood volunteered for the course to gain an exposure to welding not normally considered as a career field open to women.
Niemi organized the Women in Welding class to expose young women to a high paying career field very few consider an option growing up. The growing numbers show the success a small exposure to welding has for women. The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims by the year 2022 there will be almost 400,000 jobs in the US for welders.
The first year the class was held, only two girls signed up, the second year that bumped up to three. Last year, five girls signed up and this year ten girls have signed up. So this year for the first time, half of the welding class is female. Two female students joined two of their male counter parts as student teachers this class.
Mackenzie Agee, 15 from Ironwood, discovered welding is not so different from decorating cakes with her mother. Both jobs require a steady hand and attention to detail. Agee also found welding "a lot harder than she thought it would be."
Two of the female students signed up for a second iteration of the course and are intending to pursue careers in welding through their exposure to Women in Welding.
Levi Svoke, senior at Ironwood, intends to take the two year welding course at Gogebic Community College and then pursue pipeline work.
Emily Tesch, senior at Wakefield-Marenisco, wants to be an underwater welder and is not afraid of the rumors and fears associated with that specific line of welding. She plans to attend the Diver's Academy International in New Jersey upon graduation.
With 35 area students interested in the welding course offered by the GOISD, Niemi said she may offer a second class. That would leave five slots available for area youths to sign up for and gain first hand experience welding.
Most certified welders have an inexpensive two year degree earned at a local community college or specialized welding school. This allows welders to get into the job market quick, without the burden of large student debt incurred at a four year school.
