NewsPinellas County

Actions

Girls get hands-on experience in skilled trades at Jill of All Trades Day

Girls get hands-on experience in skilled trades at Jill of All Trades Day
mary trade
mary trade
Posted
and last updated

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of young girls in Pinellas County got a glimpse into different skilled trades on Tuesday, breaking down stereotypes and offering new opportunities to students.

Katie Marshall’s enthusiasm for her job is off the charts. She’s a Pinellas Technical College student with a focus in automotive.

“I love hearing the engine roar when I fix something, and I did that, like I did that,” Marshall said.

WATCH: Girls get hands-on experience in skilled trades at Jill of All Trades Day

Girls get hands-on experience in skilled trades at Jill of All Trades Day

It’s that passion she hopes catches on with a group of young girls she volunteered with on Tuesday.

“I want to show other girls like you can do it too,” said Marshall.

About 55 middle school-aged girls got hands-on experience in skilled trades like welding, electricity and automotive repair.

It’s part of the first Jill of All Trades Day at Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater.

“I just wanted to learn how you could do all these types of cool things,” said 11-year-old Cora Sackett.

The group learned a lot in a short time and left inspired to try something new.

“If they want to do it, I feel like they can,” said 14-year-old Chloe Mirlenbrink. “It’s not just a man’s job.”

“This allows them to actually think about their future career in a completely different way than they may have thought about before,” said Dr. Jake Prokop, the director of Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater Campus.

The workshops helped empower young girls to look into other career options that are often more male-dominated.

“If you have just one type of person doing the same thing, you’re probably not going to get a whole lot of new ideas, so this opens up a lot of opportunities, not only for the participants but also for our employers to say what’s another way that we can support our community,” said Prokop.

In new report, bankruptcy investigator says Citrus County homebuilder may have 'duped' buyers

When Madeline Frets made her first payment for a new-build home in Citrus County, she never imagined she would still be waiting for that dream home to become a reality almost four years later.

In new report, bankruptcy investigator says Citrus County homebuilder may have 'duped' buyers