High-school students gear up for diesel-technology program

West-MEC, a public-school district that provides career and technical education to high-school students, partnered with Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star to provide a training program at its Tolleson diesel-truck dealership.

Monday marked the beginning of the first high-school class of Western Maricopa Education Center's new medium-heavy diesel-technology program.

The incoming class of 20 students hail from the Peoria Unified, Deer Valley Unified, Agua Fria Union, Buckeye Union, Dysart and Paradise Valley districts to learn the ins and outs of working on medium to large semi-trucks.

West-MEC, a public-school district that provides career and technical education to high-school students, partnered with Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star to provide a training program at its Tolleson diesel-truck dealership

For the first time, students will learn about maintaining and repairing diesel engines , hydraulics and electrical components on location instead of at a high-school campus.

"It's invigorating, because these students will get to really see what they are working toward," said Greg Donovan, superintendent for West-MEC.

During a recent open house, held at the Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star of Arizona dealership, students sat in a diesel-truck workshop that was refitted for their classroom.

Semi-trucks, large-truck transmissions and repair tools were on display to give students a preview of what they would be working with. The two-year program started Monday.

Jonathan Gonzalez, 16, a junior at Centennial High School, said that after talking with his counselor about opportunities after high school, he jumped at the idea of enrolling in the West-MEC program.

"I usually help my dad fix his truck, and I've had a lot of fun doing that with him," Gonzalez said. "Plus, I've always loved working on cars."

He said he will most likely enter into the profession after he finishes the program.

Michael McAfee, director of education for the Arizona Automobile Dealers Association and Automotive Youth Education Systems, said having high-school students participate in the program will help fill in positions that come open through retirements and attrition.

The students will learn about preventive maintenance and Arizona Department of Transportation safety rules, McAfee said, and after their first year, they will have an opportunity to intern at several dealerships.

Emilio Carrillo, 17, a junior at Youngker High School, said the program will help him in the long run.

"I want to work on cars and trucks," he said.

"But I'm not sure yet, so this is just to get me started."