SkillsUSA Contact:
Clare Briner
cbriner@skillsusa.org
Washtenaw Community College student will be first woman to represent U.S. in international competition
LEESBURG, VA – March 27, 2026 – SkillsUSA has named Mikala Sposito as the official U.S. competitor for Welding at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition. This prestigious international skills competition, often referred to as the “Olympics of skilled trades,” will be held Sept. 22 -27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.
Sposito is the first woman to earn the top spot through a series of welding trials administered by the American Welding Society (AWS) with the AWS WorldSkills USA Welding Competition Committee overseeing the selection process for SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA is the official U.S. representative to WorldSkills International, and all competitors are SkillsUSA state champions and national competitors.
Sposito, a student at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the 2024 SkillsUSA Michigan welding champion, put in 60-80 hours of training per week over the last two years in her pursuit of the opportunity to represent the U.S. in international competition.
“You sacrifice so much just for the slight chance of making it to WorldSkills,” she said. “But the reward is incredible, and it feels even better knowing how hard I worked for it. I put my heart and soul into this competition; I wanted that spot on the WorldSkills team more than anything.”
Sposito’s interest in welding was sparked 12 years ago at a community event that included a virtual welding activity sponsored by AWS.
“I tried it out and thought it was the coolest thing ever,” she said. “I soon made it my thing. Whenever an adult would ask, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’, I would say with excitement: A welder!”
As she took welding classes in high school, she quickly found success in competitions.
“I started to take top-three placements at almost every competition I went to,” Sposito said. “It was such a high. I had never won anything before in sports, so this was all new to me.”
As a child, Sposito had dreams of being an Olympian, but after trying horseback riding, dance, soccer, and track and field, “nothing really stuck.” Being the first woman to do something also was a personal goal of hers.
“When I found out about WorldSkills and became more and more interested, I felt it would be a disservice to my younger self to not give it a try,” she said. “I had a chance to achieve both of my childhood dreams in one go.”
Sposito also was inspired in her pursuit of international competition by her welding instructor, Alex Pazkowski. Pazkowski was the U.S. welding competitor for WorldSkills in 2013 and earned a silver medal.
“He explained to me that it was going to be far from easy and arguably the hardest thing I’d ever go through, but I was up for the challenge,” Sposito said.
Martica Ventura, Senior Manager for Competitions, Events and Conferences for AWS, can attest to how difficult the journey to the world stage is.
“Competitors like Mikala represent the future of our industry, and her success reflects the skill, discipline, and commitment required to reach this level,” Ventura said. “AWS remains committed to supporting the next generation of welding professionals and celebrating achievements like this along the way.”
In addition to AWS, Sposito’s participation in the 2026 WorldSkills is supported by Lincoln Electric.
Welding is the seventh competition in which the U.S. delegation will compete during WorldSkills. WorldSkills brings together young people, industry, education, and government leaders from around the world to advance career and technical education and training. Competitors vie for international honors in skill competitions, showcasing dozens of trade skills.
SkillsUSA already has named competitors in CNC Milling, Mechatronics, Automobile Technology, Plumbing and Heating, Cooking and Heavy Vehicle Technology. SkillsUSA will name additional competitors, experts and sponsors as it assembles the U.S. delegation in the coming months.
To support the WorldSkills USA team, donate at worldskillsusa.org/donate.
About WorldSkills USA
SkillsUSA serves as the official U.S. representative to WorldSkills International, a global organization focused on elevating the visibility and recognition of skilled professionals. Under the name WorldSkills USA, SkillsUSA represents the United States in WorldSkills competitions. SkillsUSA (then known as VICA) was designated in 1973, and the U.S. first participated in the WorldSkills Competition in 1975.
About WorldSkills USA
SkillsUSA serves as the official U.S. representative to WorldSkills International, a global organization focused on elevating the visibility and recognition of skilled professionals. Under the name WorldSkills USA, SkillsUSA represents the United States in WorldSkills competitions. SkillsUSA (then known as VICA) was designated in 1973, and the U.S. first participated in the WorldSkills Competition in 1975.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 444,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. Those members represent 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3-D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served over 15 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About WorldSkills
Since 1950, WorldSkills has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training. It provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy. The continued growth of WorldSkills attests to the fact that traditional trade and craft skills, along with newer technology’s multi-skilled occupations, make an essential contribution to the economic and social well-being of people everywhere. For more information, go to: www.worldskills.org.