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A childhood visit to the Henry Ford Museum sparked Mikala Sposito's passion for welding. Now, at 21, she's the first woman ever to represent the United States in the International World Skills Welding Competition. 

A 21-year-old student from Washtenaw Community College is making history as the first woman to represent the United States in the International WorldSkills Welding Competition. Her dedication to welding has required significant personal sacrifices and has inspired others, with future ambitions to teach and gain field experience in advanced industries.

As part of our Trade Up series, we're taking you inside one of the most "in-demand" skilled trades in the country. At Washtenaw Community College, one student is breaking barriers and heading to the world stage. She is the first woman to represent the United States at the International WorldSkills Welding Competition.

Congratulations to Miranda Rumfelt!

trades.  On Wednesday, we dug deeper into energy efficiency and the jobs it’s bringing to Southeastern Michigan.  The DTE Energy Efficiency Academy showed us what students are learning and how they put those lessons to work.  Sakinah Howard, the manager of energy efficiency at DTE and Jonathan Clark from Walker-Miller, joined Local 4 Live to talk about the academy and why it’s important.

The Construction Craft Laborer Pre-Apprenticeship Program, launched by Detroit Home Builders in partnership with Henry Ford College, is a new pre-apprenticeship program in Detroit. It is offering people aged 16-24 a pathway into construction careers, providing hands-on experience and technical training to the next generation of skilled workers.

Ypsilanti Community High School offers a year-long drone program where students learn to fly drones, map, and prepare for the FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification, which qualifies them for paid drone work. Instructor Michael Cushman highlights that the program not only provides commercial opportunities but also introduces students to various industries and career paths, making them employable upon graduation.

During our Michigan winters, you know drafty doors and windows can lead to higher energy bills. Now, a new skilled trades pipeline is teaching a new generation of workers to hunt down leaks, make cold homes cozier, and turn that skill set into a solid career. This trade-up story comes to us from Southfield. 

A job fair mashup that aims to solve two problems at once will soon be held in Metro Detroit. Job Fair Giant is already known for sponsoring employment opportunities in Metro Detroit. Now, it’s also working with Blue Star Families to get military veterans and their spouses into the skilled trades. It’s a new layer to fixing labor shortages in that critical industry.

The Motor City Contractor Fund is hosting a skilled trades event on March 5. The event will bring together preferred lenders, community development leaders and local contractors. It's like "speed dating" with small businesses looking to find financial support. There's about $300,000 in capital on the table. Jason Barnett, senior vice president of lending at Invest Detroit, and Marja Farrow, chief growth officer, at Farrow Group Inc., join Local 4 to discuss the event.