Four women jump into welding, machinery at MCCTC



Esther Thomas of Struthers welds steel. She is one of four women who take welding and machinery classes at MCCTC.
By ROBERT CONNELLY
CANFIELD
It was their children WHO helped push four women to enroll into welding and machinery in the Adult Education program at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center.
For Kathleen Clarke, she was unsure about enrolling in the machinery program after 25 years in the floral-design field.
She said one of her sons told her, “You can make metal roses.”
The three women in the welding program all spoke fondly of their kids, too.
“My daughter looks for any bits of welding in movies now,” said Jenn Foit, 28, of Youngstown.
Morgan Cook, 27, of Canfield, added, “My daughter is my biggest fan.”
Cook has a 7-year old daughter; Foit has a 6-year old daughter; and Esther Thomas, 25, of Struthers, has two daughters, 2 and 5.
Clarke and Cook said the availability of jobs led them into the field, whereas Foit had been around tools since she was 16.
All four acknowledged that the field is mostly populated by males, but they all like the hands-on approach and have been encouraged by others.
Some families were supportive; others were surprised.
The four are enrolled in the 4 to 10 p.m. classes offered in the Adult Education program at MCCTC.
The courses run from August to late June with certifications earned along the way.
Rebecca Harris, workforce development and training coordinator for the Adult Education program, said 90 percent attendance is mandatory.
Students need a high-school diploma, or General Educational Development certificate, and must pass tests to enter.
The cost is about $9,900 for a year of classes, supplies and the certifications. There are financial-aid opportunities available, Harris said.
Foit wrote to Mike Rowe, who became popular for the television show “Dirty Jobs.”
She said she thought it was a 1 in 1.9 million shot he would write her back. He did.
“There were 2,000 responses from women across the country,” Foit said. All three laughed at some of the jokes that were in them while also saying that they were full of tips and advice.
“It’s definitely hard. The time schedule,” Cook said.
But each has enjoyed her courses so far. The classes start off with introductions, such as how to read a blueprint, and slowly progress on how to build things — Clarke’s machine class recently built brass hammers — until the final projects are things they can use the rest of their careers.
“There is no reason a girl can’t do this. We make things,” Clarke said. “We’re creating something and now we’re just showing it off.”