Realizing what you want to do with your life at a young age isn’t common. Children often look to their parents, role models, or their teachers to decide on an ideal career. So, how did Madison Martin — a living, breathing example of the powerful impact manufacturing camps can have on career choices — become a welder in the making while she was in middle school?

Before Madison attended the NBT summer manufacturing camp, Tek2Go, at Itawamba Community College (ICC) in 2017, she had no experience with welding. She originally thought about pursuing cosmetology or truck driving, two careers her mother had worked in, but luckily for the welding world, Madison’s mother told her to pursue something else by learning what she’s passionate about.

When Gina Black, director for the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo, Mississippi, became involved with the Tek2Go Camp, she and her colleagues wanted to shine a realistic light on today’s advanced manufacturing industry. “We definitely wanted to change the culture, mindset, and the whole paradigm of how people looked at advanced manufacturing in the Tupelo area. Over the last 20 years, the perception has gone from old, dirty manufacturing that our grandparents worked in to clean, high-tech environments.”

One way that Gina and her colleagues were able to expose youth to advanced manufacturing careers was through their partnership with the Tupelo Housing Authority. Every summer, young residents were offered the opportunity to attend the Tek2Go Camp at ICC. When Madison was in middle school, she was selected to attend, and Gina recognized a spark in her almost immediately. “I kind of knew Madison was special in that camp. She was so engaged and involved and asked all the right questions,” said Gina.

Madison’s first time in the welding booth at camp brought on different emotions. “I was nervous at first but then I was excited once I got the hang of it,” she said. Explaining how her passion for welding was ignited, Madison says, “I liked that I could make something from drawings and bring it to life.” She was told by the camp instructor that day in the booth that she was a quick learner which encouraged her to keep learning.

As time passed after the camp, welding stayed on Madison’s mind, “I found out after my ninth-grade year that Tupelo High School had a welding program. I got excited and wanted to take it.” She continues, “Getting to weld almost every day in class and learn new things made me want to do more and see where I could take myself with welding.”

After graduating high school, Madison decided to continue her welding education at Itawamba Community College, the same school where she discovered her passion for welding at the Tek2Go Camp.

Aside from hands-on skills, welding has taught Madison a great deal more. She explains, “I’ve learned patience. [The equipment and surfaces] get really hot, and you need to be careful so that you don’t burn yourself, but most importantly, I’ve learned how to really concentrate.”

Madison’s next stop on her welding journey was an internship at Precision Machine & Metal Fabrication last summer. During her time there, Madison was given the opportunity to work with aluminum to help create a 20-foot-tall statue of a saluting soldier for the Tippah County Veterans Memorial in Ripley, Mississippi. Although she didn’t care for the smell of welded aluminum, she had this to say, “That’s the project I’ve been most proud to work on because it’s a memorial statue for veterans that will be placed in the Tippah County Veterans Memorial Park.”

Madison has a lot to be proud of at this junction in her welding journey. “I’m proud of how far I’ve progressed. I’m getting better every time I’m in the booth,” she beamed. Madison’s advice to other girls interested in non-traditional careers like welding is simple: “Go for it. If you don’t, you might hold yourself back.” Madison’s future continues to look even brighter. “I want to do big things. Maybe I will open my own welding shop and help others with my welding knowledge,” she said.

“NBT could not be prouder of Madison and the fact that she began her exploration into welding at an NBT camp held at Itawamba Community College where she continues to hone her welding skills. This is precisely the goal of the foundation — to provide a clear pathway for young people to pursue their passion with continued support that enables them to obtain rewarding careers in the manufacturing industry,” said Ed Dernulc, director of the NBT Foundation.

Meet Madison In Person at the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Awards Gala

Madison will share her story at the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT) Awards Gala on Thursday, October 21, at Manzo’s Banquets in Des Plaines, Illinois. The gala will honor some of manufacturing’s finest contributors and supporters. Learn more about the event and reserve your seat today!