WorldSkills USA Wins Honors at Shanghai Competition
WorldSkills USA won a welding bronze medal, two Medals for Excellence and Best of Nation recognition in Shanghai.
By Academic Writing Club Newsroom
WorldSkills USA sent nine U.S. competitors to the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, where Mikala Sposito won bronze in Welding and two teammates received Medals for Excellence. The Sept. 22-27 event brought about 1,400 competitors from 73 countries and regions across 64 skills. Sposito, 21, studies at Washtenaw Community College and is the first female U.S. representative in the Welding competition. SkillsUSA selected the team from its state champions.
Welding Bronze Medal
Sposito completed thousands of hours of training for the highly competitive Welding event. She qualified through the SkillsUSA Championships and a series of welding trials administered by the American Welding Society.
Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA, said:
“Mikala represents the pinnacle of American skilled talent. Her dedication to her craft and precise technical skills are truly remarkable. She and the rest of WorldSkills USA Team are shining examples of American career and technical education and the workforce talent driving our economy. We commend their successes on the global stage and celebrate their bright futures.”
Medals For Excellence
Elizabeth Brown, 22, received a Medal for Excellence in Cooking alongside 18 other competitors in the 45-person field. Her appearance was supported by Unilever, ZWILLING and Smithfield Foods.
Elizabeth Brown, Cooking, Medal for Excellence.
Charles Goede, 20, received a Medal for Excellence in Plumbing and Heating. The distinction is awarded to competitors who meet a high skills standard and score 700 points or more on the official WorldSkills scale.
Mikala Sposito, Welding, bronze medalist.
Best Of Nation Award
Mechatronics competitors Evan Chow and James “Jack” Sutherland, both 24 and from Tennessee, received the Best of Nation award. Each participating country selects a competitor from its national team, and both men received the honor as a two-person team.
Charles Goede, Plumbing and Heating, Medal for Excellence.
Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA, said:
“Evan and Jack epitomize teamwork, cooperation and commitment. They were selected as Best of Nation for not only performing well on the international stage but exemplifying the American spirit and SkillsUSA's values.”
Competition Training
The delegation also competed in Automobile Technology, Carpentry, CNC Milling and Heavy Vehicle Technology. Each member worked with a technical expert and completed virtual and in-person training in the United States, Europe and Asia.
