Melody Gresham, a recent graduate of the welding program at Kiamichi Tech (KTC) and Antlers native, has capped off a unique journey from cake decorating to metal artistry by securing a national championship.
Gresham recently earned first place in the welding sculpture category at the national SkillsUSA championships, a remarkable achievement that brings a top honor to her school. More than 6,500 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education.
Gresham, who has been a cake decorator for eight years, always found welding interesting but never envisioned herself pursuing it. The inspiration struck unexpectedly: 'One day, when piping a border on a cake, it just popped into my head how similar the motion was to welding,' she shared.
