Ferris State University junior Abby Frisk never imagined the domestic and international doors that would open for her when she charted her course toward a Welding career. 

Majoring in Welding Engineering Technology from New Lisbon, Wisconsin, Frisk earned an opportunity she wouldn’t have dreamed of passing up. She was one of 10 people selected in the United States for the GE Aerospace group, a trip sponsored by the president of Poland, GE Aerospace and the Polish and Slavic Credit Union. Frisk’s winning pitch included a successful application, video response, and resume. 

Frisk, traveling outside the U.S. for the first time, departed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, for Poland, on May 24 for 10 days, through June 3. She traveled with a party of 20 U.S. students, the GE Aerospace USA leader and two women from the chancellery of the President of Poland. 

“It was a cultural, historical and economic experience to learn about Poland,” said Frisk, who attended Fox Valley Technical College in Wisconsin, where she graduated with an Industrial Welding Technology associate degree before Ferris. “I learned a lot about the history of Poland. It was cool to see and tour many castles and towns. It was interesting to learn about how they rebuilt after World War II, how some of the towns were mostly destroyed and what they look like today. This trip also showed me the importance of learning another language.” 

Any doubts Frisk had doubts about traveling abroad, before Summer 2023, were quickly extinguished. 

“I would definitely tell students who are thinking about it to do it,” she said. “It is so much fun, and you will meet cool people as well as have some amazing experiences. We visited Warsaw, Warka, Chelm, Lublin, Belzec, Rzeszow and Mielec. We explored many aspects of Poland, from companies and museums to government offices. I was excited to tour Lockheed Martin and GE Aerospace.” 

Frisk notes one of the trip’s highlights was an opportunity to interact with Poland’s leader. 

“It was very memorable getting to meet the President of Poland, Mr. Andrzej Duda,” she said of visiting the presidential palace on May 26, where group members participated in a diploma ceremony with the president. Frisk shook hands with the president, received the diploma and posted with him for photos during an event captured on video. 

Other trip highlights included a day-two visit, laying flowers at a memorial for former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and a tour of the royal castle in Warsaw. Day five featured a tour of Lublin University of Technology and the Aerospace Center of the National Academy of Applied Sciences. The group visited the Chelm and the Chalk Tunnels and stopped at the memorial site in Belzec for victims of the Holocaust. 

On day eight, Frisk got her opportunity to visit a branch of Lockheed Martin, in Rzeszów to PZL Mielec. 

“We were unable to take pictures,” Frisk said. “But we got to see where they make Blackhawk helicopters! Then we drove for four-4ish hours back to Warsaw.” 

On day nine, the group’s final full day in Poland, Frisk took a tour of GE Aerospace. 

“We got to see where they do engine fan blade testing and then where they have engines for new engineers and hires to learn about the engines and to take them apart,” she said. “We had lunch with GE employees and chatted about GE and our experiences in Poland. We finished the day with dinner with the Secretary of State Andrzej Dera at the Belweder Palace and a tour.” 

From there, Frisk and fellow group members started their journey back to the U.S., which included flying over Paris and spotting the Eiffel Tower in the distance from their plane. 

Back on U.S. soil, Frisk is wrapping up her summer home in Wisconsin before returning to Ferris to continue her Welding Engineering Technology academic program toward an anticipated May 2025 graduation date. 

“Welding has fascinated me since learning to weld in high school,” said Frisk, who is working as a welding/metallurgy intern at Walker Forge. “Welding is a great career choice as there are so many options for jobs related to welding, whether it be hands-on welding, inspection, robotics, education or engineering.”

Frisk urges anyone, male or female, to not see this career path as intimidating. 

“If you’re thinking about a career in welding, it is very rewarding and not as scary as you may think,” she said before reflecting on being a woman in a field made up traditionally of predominantly men. “In my work experience, I have worked with mostly men, and they have always been super helpful and usually think it’s pretty cool that a woman is going into welding engineering.”