Welding sparking girls’ interest at Taylor High
Males still dominate welding, but Taylor High School welding instructors Scott Bishop and Marvin Kroft the last few years have seen a steady increase in females joining their classes.
“Five or six years ago, I only had three or four girls in my welding classes, but now I have 20,” Bishop said.
Welding is often a prerequisite for many of the new career and technical education classes offered at Taylor High.
Junior Lindsay Gomez initially planned to enroll in the precision machine program, but she needed to take Introduction to Welding first.
She enjoyed the training so much she never moved on to precision machining.
“Welding (as a career) is going to continue to grow. In Williamson County alone, with all the growth here, the job opportunities are going to be staggering for welders,” Bishop said.
Sophomore Raelyn Cox said she always dreamed about learning to weld, especially since other family members — including both of her grandfathers — were skilled in the craft.
“I like the physics portion of (welding), how everything works to heat up the metal and hold it all together,” Cox said.
Gomez enjoys the “hands-on” aspect of the trade.
“(With welding,) it’s really just you and your skill and you can see the progress that you make,” she said.
Cox and Gomez were also part of the high school’s all-girls welding competition team along with junior Audry Organ and senior Molli Kennick.
This was the first year the team competed. Kroft, who assembled the group, said he felt it was a “nobrainer,” adding the girls worked well together.
“We couldn’t have asked for anything more out of them,” he said.
Cox said she liked the pressure of competing.
Added Gomez, “The competition was very fun and the first time I got to make a project, and I liked that.”
In one of their contests, the girls’ welding team made a portable stove later donated to the Taylor Educational Enrichment Foundation and auctioned at its major fundraiser, “Food Dudes,” held April 5.
The fundraiser benefits programs of the Taylor Independent School District.
Cox and Organ want to continue welding after high school.
The latter is considering either attending a trade school or joining the Navy as a welder.
“I really enjoy welding, and I think more kids should take (the class). It’s a good life skill to know,” Organ said.
