17-Year-Old Machinist Graduates With Dad and Sister in Georgia

A 17-year-old girl who couldn't speak English five years ago will walk across the graduation stage Thursday with an associate degree in Precision Machining and Manufacturing. Her sister and father will graduate right beside her.

Mayahuel Yaoapoqa spent her early childhood in Chuuk, a cluster of volcanic islands in Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean. After moving around the world, including stops in Israel, California, and New York, her family finally settled in Georgia in 2021.

"It was difficult when I first arrived in the United States," Mayahuel said. "I didn't speak the language or understand the way people behaved."

That struggle didn't stop her. After finishing homeschooling, she and her 19-year-old sister Sueann toured Georgia Northwestern Technical College's campus in Rome. Mayahuel chose machining because she wanted to create useful products that people use every day.

"If I want something, I've always wanted to be able to make it or make sure it happens," she said. Sueann chose Business Management and will graduate with her associate degree at the same ceremony.

Their success inspired their father, Olin Yaoapoqa, to go back to school himself. After seeing his daughters thrive, the U.S. Army veteran enrolled in GNTC's Horticulture program and plans to finish this summer before starting Cybersecurity classes.

Both sisters are also taking flight lessons at the local airport. Mayahuel dreams of becoming a certified flight instructor, while Sueann wants to start an aviation training school.

Why This Inspires

Program Director Bart Jenkins said Mayahuel stands out in a field where women remain rare. "She sets a strong example of what's possible for others considering a similar path," he said.

The family views education as an investment in their collective future. Through the GNTC Foundation, scholarships have helped make their dreams possible. Mayahuel has received the Gene Haas Scholarship twice, while her father earned the Rabbit Valley Farmers Market Scholarship.

Mayahuel said she wants to invest in businesses that better the communities she belongs to. For a girl who arrived in America unable to speak the language, she's already building a better future for everyone around her.

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