St Ignatius Welding Students Return from North Carolina Inspired and Empowered

Seven standout students from St Ignatius High School are back home after a transformative ten-day field experience in North Carolina, bringing with them renewed confidence and expanded career ambitions in welding and non-destructive testing (NDT).

The trip, heavily supported by the STEM U Foundation, is part of an annual global exchange initiative aimed at strengthening technical education and industry exposure for young people. This marks the second year the foundation has partnered with St Ignatius High School to advance STEM opportunities.

Principal Jeaneane Neal explained that the programme focuses specifically on students engaged in welding and non-destructive testing, areas traditionally dominated by men. “STEM U Foundation has been one of the biggest sponsors for this program or initiative,” Neal said. “It is St Ignatius High School students engaged in STEM, particularly welding and non-destructive testing. STEM U Foundation does a global exchange every year, and so this is the second year with St Ignatius High School in the area of STEM.”

The group departed Belize on March ninth and returned today, with six female students and one male student participating. Among them was fourth-form student Bettina Myers, who described the experience as both enlightening and empowering. “This experience has been very enlightening and empowering, because when we went there we saw a lot of women that are specialists in their fields, and it encouraged me more to continue this study and own my own business,” Myers said.

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