LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s the first competition of its kind in Kentucky as Jefferson County Public Schools hosts an all-girls welding showdown.
A future in welding is a bright one for Brianna Knochelman. The Grant County High School sophomore is three years into learning the trade and the spark has only grown.
“I knew when I started I was going to love it,” Knochelman told Spectrum News 1. “I was in middle school and they said just to get to high school and try something new and I was like I’ll try welding,” the sophomore continued.
Knochelman is one of 45 high school girls competing in Kentucky’s first ever all-girls welding competition hosted by JCPS and the welding program at Pleasure Ridge Park High School. PRP’s program includes 20 young women welders of their own.
David McCoy is a welding instructor at PRP and in his six years there, the welding program has grown exponentially. “When you’re in a county as diverse as this county, I think it’s important we celebrate every aspect of that diversity,” McCoy told reporters Thursday morning.
Haley McCan began welding on her family farm at a young age. “Whenever I was about maybe 9, 10-years-old, just around the farm helping out, welding stuff together.”
McCan says it was a year ago when she really started heating up her welding career. For McCann and many of students here, welding is their future after high school. “I’m looking at pipe fitting jobs and I’m hoping that maybe in about five years I will have enough money to move out and have my own place down in Texas,” McCan said.
The number of females in high school welding programs is growing across the state according to McCoy, and that’s especially true at his school. In fact, McCoy says recently there were more than 100 incoming freshmen interested in welding but only 40 spots available.
Knochelman says if other young women are interested in welding they should go for it. “I definitely think it’s a great idea for women to start, even if you think it’s a ‘man's job,’ if you think you can do it and love it, that’s awesome.”
The winners of the competition were Ashley Willhoit of Green County High School who took the top spot for Level 1 (freshmen and sophomores). Level 2 for juniors was won by Emma Mansfield of Meade County High School and the senior Level 3 winer was Magee Johnson of Lee County High School.