Dan and Richard Bower
Dan and I get up at 5:30 every morning, attend Lake Washington Technical College (LWTC) classes, work until 8:00 p.m. most nights, then study for the next day. Has this hectic schedule been worthwhile? That's a definite Yes!
We chose LWTC because of The High School Academy program. We were home-schooled, only took two years of high school and needed to make up many credits. What appealed to us was that Lake Washington Technical Academy offered the opportunity to earn those high school credits and take college courses at the same time.
I have taken Auto Repair and Welding Fabrication courses, while Dan studied Auto Body and Welding. We selected this particular area to explore some career options, with the thought of possibly opening our own vehicle restoration/custom fabrication shop some day. You see, we have amassed a mighty fleet of vehicles (12!) that are in dire need of repair and restoration.
LWTC Instructor Ben Taves has not only been an incredibly knowledgeable welding teacher, but has shown genuine interest in our hobbies. He even let Dan compete with him on a welding team in the 2005 Bellingham Technical College Welding Rodeo. He's always there to help students who struggle with a specific subject.
I'm happy to report that Dan and I are both graduating with GPA's over 3.6. I will have an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Auto Repair and a Certificate in Welding. Dan will have Certificates in both Welding and Auto Body and intends to return in the fall to complete his AAS degree.
At present, we're both working as carpenters. While in school, a friend of ours was building a house and asked the contractor if we could help out. Carpentry work takes us all over the greater Seattle area where we do everything from simple framing to high-end finish carpentry and custom cabinetwork.
Our goal is to take a year off from school, then either enter the University of Washington to earn Bachelors degrees, or return to LWTC, if the rumored Bachelors program here goes into effect.
Dan and I may have lost a little sleep with our long hours of classes, work and study; however, the hands-on education we received at LWTC, coupled with our own carpentry experience, has prepared us well for a successful life's work adventure...wherever that may take us!
Todd Fox
With my interest in cars, and seeking a new career, I signed up for classes in automotive repair at Lake Washington Technical College (LWTC). As a former network support analyst, I could see opportunities for me to use my logic, research, and troubleshooting skills while working on automobiles, which I love. My instructor sold me on the idea of the ACDelco Technical Service Educational Program (TSEP) which combines classroom knowledge with working as an apprentice automotive technician in a real repair shop.
I had already performed simple maintenance on my own car, and now met the challenge of properly disassembling and reassembling large portions of the engine and transmission. Excellent instructors, and patience on my part, taught me to approach repair work from angles that weren't always obvious to me. Since the main goal of LWTC is to prepare people for today's job market, I knew when I finished the school-to-work program, I'd have a solid base of skills to convince a potential employer to hire me.
I am also certain that my on-the-job training benefits both my employer and myself. I gain hands-on experience and they get to train me to their shop's specifications. My research also revealed that a top automotive technician makes good money and works a respectable, 40-hour workweek. And... I'll never be without a job.
I was honored in the Spring of 2003 to be chosen for the Phi Theta Kappa All Washington Academic Team which is an award presented to students who exemplify scholarship and leadership in community, junior, and technical colleges. I am proud to say I also graduated Magna Cum Laude and made the Presidents List at LWTC.
Although I received several college scholarship offers, I chose to enroll at City University and am currently working towards a degree in Business Administration. My plan is to earn a Masters Degree in Business (MBA) or in Education. With an MBA, I could manage my own automotive business using my extensive knowledge of automotive repair learned through Lake Washington's Technical Service Educational Program.
