Western Technical College

  For the past few months Western Technical College (WTC) has had some younger visitors in the Automotive Department. Almost every Wednesday, beginning in September, Boy Scouts Troop 38, has been learning and practicing automotive skills from general maintenance to electrical systems to fuel systems and brake systems. The scouts have been working towards earning their Automotive Merit Badges. Randy Kuykendall, Board Chair and CEO of WTC, who attended the last scheduled meeting, was pleased with the success of this year’s first collaboration with the Boy Scouts and says “this is just one more way Western Tech can give back to the community.”

  Under the guidance and supervision of Ernie Leyva, Automotive Program Director, Jorge Linan, Automotive Program Instructor, and Richard Boles, Automotive Program Student, the scouts engaged in studies in the classroom, first through power point presentations, physical demonstrations, and lively conversations; then, just like Western Tech students, the scouts put those lessons into practice out in the lab. Linan comments that he was “impressed by how enthusiastic and willing the young men were to learn and practice.” 

  The scouts’ responses to their experiences at Western Tech were all very positive and genuine. Andre Jefferson says “now, I can help my parents with their cars at home, or I can work in my grandfather’s shop.” Jefferson also says he is now interested in attending Western Tech after this preliminary practice thanks to WTC’s collaboration with the Boy Scouts. Other comments made by scouts include, Sam Sanchez, who says that the program “was very well organized” and Zach Rosser who says “it was fun!” To show their appreciation to WTC for their time and energy devoted to teaching and showing the young men these automotive skills, the scouts gifted Leyva and Linan gift cards to Cattlemen’s Restaurant and the Matco Tool Store at WTC. Linan says he certainly hopes to keep participating in this great program.