Summary

  • Mikala Sposito will represent the U.S. in welding at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
  • She is the first woman to represent the United States in welding at WorldSkills.
  • Her selection followed three qualifying events and a first-place finish at the USA Weld Trials.

The American Welding Society and SkillsUSA announced that Mikala Sposito, a 21-year-old student from Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been selected as the official U.S. welding competitor for the 48th WorldSkills Competition, set for September 22–27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.

💡
Would you like to receive Weld Feed newsletter?! Subscribe for free, also get full access to the website.
Subscribe

Sposito earned her place by winning the USA Weld Trials at the Robotics Technology Park in Huntsville, Alabama. The selection process tested precision, safety, technical execution, craftsmanship, and complex multi-process welding work under international standards and tight time limits.

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
The 48th WorldSkills Competition will take place 22-27 September 2026.

AWS says Sposito trained 60–80 hours per week over the last two years, and she also won the 2024 SkillsUSA Michigan state championship. Her path shows how serious technical education, good coaching, and steady practice can turn young talent into world-level competition skill.