Pennsylvania College of Technology students vying for gold at the SkillsUSA National Championships is common. An all-female welding team representing the school at the prestigious competition is not. Thanks to three talented female welding and fabrication engineering technology students, it may be in the future. The trio aims to be trendsetters at the college and nationally.

Joelle E. Perelli, of Bath; Erin M. Beaver, of Winfield; and Natalie J. Rhoades, of Weedville, defeated all-male counterparts at the district and state levels to advance to the SkillsUSA National Championships June 25-29 in Louisville, Ky.

“I told them that they shocked Pennsylvania when they went to Hershey and won gold. I truly believe that if they stay focused and put in the time and effort, they could very well shock the nation,” said Jacob B. Holland, the welding instructor instrumental in forming the all-female team for SkillsUSA’s welding fabrication competition.

The state competition required participants to design and build a welding and fabrication cutting table, take a written test on welding basics and deliver an oral presentation to a panel of industry judges. The winning Penn College team relied on multiple welding and cutting processes to manufacture a steel table, measuring 4 feet long, 30 inches wide and 3 feet high.

“The tables were pretty close in quality, but there were other factors that went into it like the blueprints, presentation and test,” Beaver said.

“The judges seemed pretty impressed with our oral presentation,” Perelli added.

SkillsUSA was new for Perelli and Rhoades but not for Beaver, who won gold at nationals in the welding sculpture category last year after finishing second in 2016.

“We liked the fact that Erin had experience at both the state and national level,” Holland explained. “I had Natalie in class and knew she had a strong work ethic and a competitive spirit. Joelle was the wild card. I never had her in class. I asked one of her instructors about her, and he went on and on about how hard she worked and how good of a welding hand she has. It was a quick ‘yes’ from all three, and the all-female welding team was born.”

For nationals, teams must design and submit blueprints for a shoe donation box, containing a tamper-proof drop-off door and a secure emptying door. The second part of the competition consists of live welding. The students will have six hours to build a rocket stove - a small portable stove primarily used for cooking - based on blueprints and materials provided to them on site. Penn College will compete against approximately 20 other teams.

“Going against so many schools is obviously a big mental factor,” Beaver said. “As long as we keep our heads within ourselves with what we are doing, I think we’ll have a good chance.”

Regardless of the final standings, the students are grateful for the experience.

“I think having this on our resume is going to be a real winner for us,” Rhoades said.

“It’s a confidence builder. Knowing that we have the skills to do this is going to be helpful down the line,” Perelli said.

Beaver, a junior, and Rhoades, a sophomore, plan to work as welding engineers before considering teaching careers. Beaver also envisions expanding the welding sculpture business she created last year.

Perelli enjoys the finite aspects of welding and hopes to turn that interest into clean-room work within the pharmaceutical industry.

“Having these practices under our belt will be extremely helpful once we get there, at least to shake out some of the nerves,” Perelli said.

Not that they should be nervous.

“We are pretty good at what we do,” Rhoades said with a sly smile.