Page 14 - Spring 2014 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

WHO SAYS GIRLS CAN’T WELD BULLDOZERS

By Neil Mansfield

As I write this in late January, for many of us during this time of year in New
England, our minds and hearts are thinking about the New England Patriots
football team making it to the Super Bowl! However Alexzandra Alcock, who
is a senior in the metal fabrication/welding program at Assabet Valley Regional
Technical High School in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is thinking about how
to finish her welding task to rebuild an oversized, heavy-duty excavator bucket.

Like so many other female welders today, Alexzandra is doing outstanding
work and following the footsteps of long ago, but not forgotten, “Rosie the
Riveters” who were truly an integral work force that help win World War II
(1941 - 1945). They were the much needed welders, pipefitters, riveters,
sheet metal workers, and machinists, who were truly the back bone of building
ships, submarines, tanks, aircraft, and armaments for the allied forces to fight
in the South Pacific and Europe.

Alexzandra’s co-op journey began during her junior year at Assabet Valley
High School. Massachusetts vocational students are required to spend 30 hours
each week in their technical programs as well as being required to maintain a
balance of honorable academic grades, acceptable attendance records, and out-
Alexzandra standing next to her
welded bucket says it all.
(Continued on page 22)

14