Student Spotlight - Erika Manweiler

Erika Manweiler is a first-generation college student studying welding and engineering at EvCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Training and Education Center (AMTEC). She is working toward an ATA in Welding and certificates in engineering and TIG welding. Her passion for classic cars, inspired by her family, led her to pursue welding as a key skill for her dream of owning a classic car restoration and modification business. “If any of you, especially young women, are looking for a career in the trades,” she says, “or you want to learn a new skill, go to AMTEC. They have the best of the best to help you prepare for the industry”

Tell me a little bit about yourself, including what you're studying here at EvCC

My name is Erika Manweiler and I am a 1st generation college student in my family. I am currently studying welding and engineering at AMTEC and working towards my ATA for Welding as well as two certificates for engineering and TIG. I went to Shoreline CC right out of high school in 2011 to pursue a career in automotive and obtain my ASE Certifications. I ended up doing the 2 year MOPAR CAP Program and graduated in 2017 but sadly, my career didn’t take off like I thought it would due to sexism and discrimination and also not being able to work on classic cars like my dream had been. I decided to keep automotive as a hobby but have not given up on my dream and goal of owning my own business where I will restore, modify and do fabrication on classic cars and welding came into being a necessity to achieve this goal. My family raised me around classic cars and I currently own 2, a 1967 Buick Special Deluxe and a 1973 Buick Apollo, and my parents own classics themselves. I am involved with a classic car club and we do everything from car shows, to cruises, and drag racing events. I am currently a structures mechanic at Boeing on the 767 Wings program and I love what I do and thanks to Boeing, I was able to go back to school to pursue this degree and I am very grateful for that. I am currently enrolled in EVCC Honors and am the first AMTEC Student to ever get in and I am also currently President of our EVCC Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society: Kappa Kappa Chapter, I was VP of Leadership last year. 

Why did you choose to attend EvCC?

I chose Everett Community College because AMTEC is one of the best trade training centers in the nation and I knew I could also obtain my WABO welding certifications there as well as receive great training and experience and build my skills.

What are your educational and/or career plans?

My educational plans after EVCC is to transfer to Texas A&M University to pursue my Bachelors degree in Business and my Aerospace Engineering degree. My career plans are to eventually quit Boeing and transition to starting my own business of classic car restoration and be mobile to help the classic car community to the best of my abilities.

What interested you about your area of study?

My cousin Vannessa Paige Downing got into an apprenticeship for welding when I was in high school and sadly, she died in a tragic work accident so I partially did this in her honor and memory because she always wanted to learn to work on cars and I was curious about welding but knew nothing and all of that stopped once she died. I also realized it was a key necessity for owning and operating a classic car restoration shop as you need good welding skills for body work and custom jobs or requests customers want for their rides. Also, automotive and welding go hand in hand, I would have taken welding if Shoreline CC had a welding program but they did not but I also could not afford to go back to school and working at Boeing afforded me that opportunity.

How do you think the skills you're learning at EvCC are helping you reach your goals?

I have amazing instructors who not only don’t care about my gender and see me as an equal, they make sure I understand the processes, I know how to read blueprints, do the measurements and math necessary for projects, and they always show me different techniques and tricks to help me improve me skills and prepare me for WABO. I am also involved in AWS and AMTEC Club where I can continue to improve my skills and create things for our community and give back, and that feels great, but the instructors really, really care about your education and take lots of time to coach you and get one-on-one to help you succeed.

Describe the best experience you've had at EvCC.

The best experience I’ve had with EVCC is getting to have a refresh to life, a second chance, and to be accepted as a female in a male dominated industry and taken seriously where I was not in automotive and that’s what forced me out. I’ve also loved being a part of PTK because it has helped me to be less shy and more open, help with my anxiety of talking to big groups of people, and it has improved my leadership skills ten fold. I love being able to help others and take part in club activities and especially being the first AMTEC student (and female) to present to the EVCC Honors Program what AMTEC is all about and demonstrate my skills and wow them. I also love being able to be a mentor for new students coming into AMTEC or EVCC in general and giving back in any way I can to give them confidence and show them that they can succeed and be confident in themselves and their abilities.

What's your favorite class project so far?

My favorite project so far is our Honors In Action Project for Phi Theta Kappa and my upcoming Capstone Project for EVCC Honors where I will wow them with what we can do at AMTEC since they’ve never had a student from there prior to me. I am planning on making a Yakitori grill with full rotisserie and for AMTEC Club, we are working on welding horseshoes together and painting them to make hearts with arrows that are welding rods and flowers so we can sell them at Clubfest in February for Valentines Day. We take the time to also paint them and make sure you can get your significant other a super cool gift and we also are working on other horseshoe items like pumpkins for Halloween, Snowmen for Christmas, and other things like coat racks, lamps, or just other forms of art to have around your house. 

Who has helped you succeed at EvCC? What did that person do to help you?

Mike Callahan, Rob White, and Jason Speicher are my biggest supporters that have helped me succeed and have fun with learning to weld as well as show me what’s necessary to prepare me for my WABO certs and a career in welding. They have helped bring me out of my shy shell and showed me that I am a really good welder and as a female I am just as capable as the men and also have helped me build my skills and confidence in myself. 

What advice do you have for new students?

If any of you, especially young women, are looking for a career in the trades or you want to learn a new skill, go to AMTEC. They have the best of the best to help you prepare for the industry, they take time to make sure you are learning and have fun doing it but also, help you get into some great jobs to establish a good paying and successful career. Also, if you put in the extra effort, join PTK and EVCC Honors like I did to further your education after EVCC, push yourself to do better each and every day, you can do it and you achieve your goals here!