Texas Border Business
Career Tech Early College at Mission High School has three young ladies that are taking welding by storm and the courses they are taking are in preparation for their certification that will open the doors for a variety of employment opportunities while they seek higher education or plan their next career choice.
Kayla Garza, senior, already has an American Welding Society Certification and is seeking an additional welding certification. Both Bianca Treviño and Danielle Puga have been taking courses for four years since they were freshmen and will be obtaining a welding certificate from South Texas College as well.
“I started taking courses the summer of my junior year in high school and it took me 2 months to obtain my first certificate,” states Kayla Garza. “I want to become an agriculture teacher that specializes in welding so my next steps are to obtain an associates degree and then a bachelors degree from Texas A & M Kingsville.”
Welding is no longer a male dominated skill, these young ladies have proven this is a great skill to have not only because it pays well, but because it provides them with opportunities. These students are trailblazers and are setting the tone for future female welders that would like to take the course at Career Tech Early College.
“My mom wasn’t really a fan of allowing me to take welding because she said it was for boys,” states Bianca Treviño. “Slowly she has changed her mind after seeing my commitment and hearing my future plans once I earn my welding certification. She supports my decisions now and especially because it is something that I really enjoy.”
Career Technical Education offers a variety of programs and pathways for students to earn certificates or college hours in welding technology, precision manufacturing, education, business, and law enforcement.
Currently, students in the welding field can obtain an associate’s degree and have an earning power of over $41,000.
“I would like to take my welding acquired skills in a different direction and would like to create sculptures one day,” started Danielle Puga. “I believe what piqued my interest in this was when I was younger, my mother would take me to museums where I did get to see some sculptures that had been created by different artists.”
For more information about welding courses available at Career Tech Early College at MHS please call (956) 323- 5700 or Mission CISD Career Technical Education at (956) 323-5508.
