Kaitlin Nye, a graduate of Walla Walla Community College’s welding program, now works at Cascade Natural Gas. The American Association of University Women Walla Walla chapter recently announced a new scholarship for women in WWCC’s trade programs.
Kaitlin Nye, a graduate of Walla Walla Community College’s welding program, now works at Cascade Natural Gas. The American Association of University Women Walla Walla chapter recently announced a new scholarship for women in WWCC’s trade programs.
American Association of University Women-Walla Walla has expanded its scholarship fund to include women enrolled or intending to enroll in a trade program offered at Walla Walla Community College.
AAUW also partners with WWCC to host regular luncheons to provide networking and skills-building opportunities for women who are enrolled in the college’s trade programs.
Lunches began in summer and have featured former students, resume-building tips and financial advice.
The Women in Trades scholarship will enable more women in the Walla Walla Valley to pursue highly skilled trade careers, noted WWCC Director of Marketing and Communications Rebecca Thorpe in a release. Applications are due by March 10.
“Locally and nationally, it is AAUW’s mission to empower women and girls. And we know workforce needs are changing,” said AAUW Walla Walla President Mitzi Jensen. “For students not on the four-year college path, learning a trade is a great opportunity to gain economic self-sufficiency. And we believe the training at WWCC is both high-quality and affordable.”
“Our long-term goal is to create a strong network for WWCC students and WWCC Women in Trades graduates,” said Tracii Hickman, co-chair of AAUW’s Women in Trades Project.
Welding technology represents one of WWCC’s most popular trade programs, Thorpe said.
Currently, 15-25% of students enrolled in WWCC welding programs on the Walla Walla campus are women. Kristopher Margart, who leads the program, said the number of women interested in the trade is growing at a time when skilled welders are retiring faster than they can be replaced.
WWCC offers a two-year associate degree in applied sciences in welding technology in addition to a one-year welding technology certificate. Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and must learn skills that comply with standards set by the American Welding Society and Washington Association of Building Officials.
Recent graduates include Kaitlin Nye, who took her first welding class in high school.
She then enrolled in a four-year college studying bioengineering and math. But she kept gravitating back to welding because she enjoyed it so much and she found she was good at it, Thorpe reported.
“I like art and I like working with my hands,” Nye said. “After a year studying abroad, I came back to what I enjoyed the most. I knew WWCC had a great welding program. So, I thought, ‘Why don’t I just apply and see what happens?’”
Nye grew up in College Place and worked summers in agriculture and other part-time jobs. After she enrolled at WWCC, she reached out to Key Technology in Walla Walla, which manufactures stainless steel food processing equipment.
She was thrilled to secure an internship and paid part-time job, although it meant she attended morning and early afternoon classes, before working as a welder on Key’s night shift, Thorpe said.
“Yes, I was tired, but Key is very open and encourages their employees’ success,” said Nye, who continued working for the company after graduating in spring 2023.
Nye landed her dream job about a year ago at Cascade Natural Gas.
“Getting to the point where all your hard work pays off — it’s just a good feeling,” she said.
“Kaitlin welds on live natural gas lines. Those are nursing home furnaces and hospital furnaces. You can’t turn on your heat in this city without taking the work she does for granted,” said Margart, her former instructor.
“Every time you cross a bridge, walk into a big building, or fill your car with gas, that’s something a welder has done to elevate the quality of life for our society.”
Kaitlin Nye returns often to coach WWCC welding students on what it takes to succeed.
The AAUW Women in Trades Scholarship will be most welcome, she says, “especially if it allows them to focus solely on their education, without the added stress of working after classes.”
AAUW-Walla Walla raises scholarship funds through its local kitchen tours and annual book sale, this year scheduled for Feb. 21-23 at the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center. AAUW-Walla Walla’s Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $125,000 to women in the Walla Walla Valley since 2016.
Scholarship recipients include women returning to college after an interruption, women who have completed two years of college in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and, beginning in 2025, women enrolled or intending to enroll in a WWCC trade program.
AAUW also partners with WWCC to host regular luncheons to provide networking and skills-building opportunities for women who are enrolled in the college’s trade programs. The lunches began over the summer and have featured former students, resume-building tips and financial advice.
AAUW is a nationwide network of more than 170,000 members and supporters. AAUW-Walla Walla is the largest branch in the state of Washington, marking its 100th birthday in 2023. The AAUW Fund, including scholarships, is administered through Blue Mountain Community Foundation. For additional information call 509-529-4371 or go to bluemountainfoundation.org.
Retired editor/journalist Annie Charnley Eveland freelances the Etcetera column and stories for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. She is a member of AAUW-Walla Walla. Send contact name, daytime phone number, news and clear sharply focused photos as .jpg attachments to acereporter1979@gmail.com or call 509-386-7369.
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