For some students, SCTCC’s low price tag draws them in. For others, it’s because it’s close to home. For Nick Lamperes, one of the key benefits of the Medium/Heavy Truck diesel technician program was its relationship to industry partners.
“It helps keep us up to date on what’s coming out, what’s new coming in from Peterbilt, Kenworth, all those other brands,” Lamperes explained. “It’s a pretty close community.”
Since he comes from a family of mechanics, he’s been in the transportation world for a while and knew this was the field he wanted to pursue. One of his relatives works as an aviation mechanic, and his grandfather drove diesel trucks for years.
Before he started at SCTCC, he was working with the Coborn’s trucking department. Now, Lamperes is working full time and going to class. One benefit of working at Coborn’s is they are helping pay for his degree, but the hours can sometimes be difficult to fit in. The flexibility of the Medium/Heavy Truck program helps, though: he comes to class in the mornings starting at 7 a.m., goes to work at Coborn’s after, and gets home around 8 or 9 p.m.
The long days are just until May when he graduates with his AAS.
“After I’m done, I’m going work in the industry a little but more,” Lamperes mentioned. “My goal is to maybe one day run my own shop, be my own boss. Even if I don’t stick with the industry, it’s something I like to do as a hobby.”
The industry is always changing, so industry partners bring brand new trucks to class to let the students check under the hood, pull covers back, and see what it’s all about. They also work with instructors Matt Hoepner and Timmy Shay to make sure that what is being taught is what the industry needs.
With those connections, students like Lamperes get the most up-to-date education and training for their careers. It’s not just the Medium/Heavy Truck program that has this kind of guidance—all SCTCC programs have advisory boards to make sure the classwork is current.
When students are deciding on which college to attend, they may notice the close location or pricetag, but one thing they don’t need to worry about at SCTCC is the continued collaboration and relationships with industry partners. That, as Lamperes explained, will always be strong.