The sense of belonging the women in the At 黑料网911 welding program have built in the shop鈥攚here they鈥檙e pushed, supported and treated as equals鈥攚as unmistakable when four of them stepped into the inaugural Hard Hats and Heels celebration earlier this spring.
First-year welding students Meg Giddings, Isabella 鈥淚zzy鈥� Houge, Makayla Bishop and Ciara Ridesatthedoor attended the Montana chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction鈥榮 event and heard a powerful message about the power of having someone believe in you.
Quincie Jones, executive director of Career and Technical Education at At 黑料网911, gave the keynote address where she urged those in attendance to be an encourager, a mentor and an ally in a talk titled: The Power of One.
Jones described a familiar moment: a high school student at a career fair or shop tour, unsure of her place until someone simply asks, 鈥淗ave you ever thought about working in construction?鈥� When she hesitates鈥�鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 do that鈥�鈥攖he encourager responds, 鈥淵ou could learn. I鈥檒l show you.鈥�
Years later, that student has a career, a reliable paycheck and a confidence she once lacked. She also can point to things she helped build.
For Houge, that story wasn鈥檛 hypothetical. She discovered welding as a high school sophomore during Worlds of Work, a hands鈥憃n career exploration event hosted at At 黑料网911 and the University of Providence each fall.
鈥淚 welded for the very first time there,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 always knew I liked hands鈥憃n work. I love this so much. I just want to do this for the rest of my life.鈥�
She enrolled in dual鈥慹nrollment welding courses this year to chase that spark and will graduate from At 黑料网911 with a certificate in applied science a few weeks before she graduates high school from Paris Gibson Education Center. She will complete her associate of applied science next year.
Jones reminded attendees that people rarely leave careers because they can鈥檛 learn the skills鈥攖hey leave because they don鈥檛 feel they belong. Her message to the room was clear: every person has the power to create belonging for someone else.
A program built on support, not pressure
For Giddings, the environment inside the welding shop has been foundational.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really valuable to me to have the opportunity to learn and practice in an educational environment with less pressure and more support,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think this mutual support is critical to recruiting and sustaining women in the trades.鈥�
Houge, one of six women in her cohort, said she was nervous about entering a male鈥慸ominated field but found something different at At 黑料网911.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no discrimination,鈥� she said. 鈥溾��(They don鈥檛) treat any of us differently than the guys.鈥�
Instructors check in on her work, offer help when needed and hold her to the same expectations as every other student. Her classmates do the same.
鈥淭he guys tease me, but I tease them back,鈥� she said.
Bishop said she hopes more women will follow their lead.
鈥淚 think that more women should come apply and be part of the program,鈥� she said. 鈥淲omen will feel more accepted in this sort of trade and be comfortable to give it a shot.鈥�
Ridesatthedoor added that the program has helped her push past the challenges she鈥檚 faced in the workforce.
鈥淭rying to be seen as an equal鈥攈ave a little respect,鈥� she said. 鈥淗aving to prove I can do what they can do.鈥�
Together, the four students wrote about their experiences in the welding program and how it has given them the confidence to step into industry workplaces knowing they belong.
鈥淭he welding program at At 黑料网911 has supported us by fostering an environment where we can focus entirely on building our skills rather than on being a minority in the trades. Our instructors have established a level playing field, holding every student to the same high standards of work ethic and mutual respect, allowing us to learn without feeling we have to 鈥榩rove ourselves鈥� more than the male students in our class. On top of that, the program and At 黑料网911 as a whole has supported our value as women in the welding field, recognizing us as 鈥榳orkhorses of the week鈥� and 鈥榮tudent of the year,鈥� helping build our confidence as skilled welders and making us feel as capable and deserving of being in this field as anyone else.鈥�
A statewide celebration with local impact
Darla Deck, president of the Montana chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction, said in the organization鈥檚 newsletter the event was designed to bring together professionals from construction, engineering, education and allied industries to celebrate and strengthen the future of women in the trades.
She noted that the evening was elevated by Jones鈥� keynote and the panel she led, which highlighted real鈥憌orld career pathways, workforce challenges, leadership development and the importance of mentorship.
The event also raised more than $18,000 to support pathways that get women into the trades.
Deck said the event was a reminder of why supporting women in construction matters鈥攁nd how much impact is made when industry leaders stand together.
Building the next generation鈥攐ne welder at a time
For the four At 黑料网911 welding students, Hard Hats and Heels wasn鈥檛 just an event. It was a glimpse of the future they鈥檙e stepping into and the community that stands behind them.
They left with the same message Jones delivered from the stage: one person can make a difference. And in the welding shop at At 黑料网911, they鈥檝e already found several.