Wenatchee Valley College student Micheal Lewis has always been a hands-on learner and worker, and from that, he developed an interest in automotive technology. “If my dad was working on his car doing something on the weekends, I’d be out there helping him, even if it was just watching him or handing [him] tools, turning wrenches,” he said. “When I’m not doing something that’s hands-on, that’s where I start to do my struggling.”

When Micheal was in high school, he attended a college recruitment fair where a representative from Universal Technical Institute was in attendance. UTI is “one of the big automotive training schools, so I was interested in them,” Micheal said. However, several family members and long-time friends expressed concern that he might develop long-term health issues, steering him away from the automotive industry. So Micheal followed a different family route: he enlisted in the army a few years after high school. He had grown up in a military household; his father was also in the army. Micheal completed his training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for about two years. His unit deployed to Afghanistan, and he re-enlisted on his first deployment for Choice of Duty Station to return to the Pacific Northwest, where he spent the last 2 ½ years of his service at Fort Lewis, which included another combat deployment.

After his service, Micheal worked a variety of jobs before returning to school: painting, roofing, home remodel repair, long-haul driving, and food and construction supply delivery. He described himself as “trying to wear the hat of Jack of all trades, master of none, to a T.” He moved to the Wenatchee Valley for a job as a union crane operator, but he wasn’t fully satisfied happy with the work. When Micheal came across an advertisement for Wenatchee Valley College, his pathway back to a career in automotive technology began.

He researched course options online and then reached out to Jade Knell, WVC’s Veterans Services school certifying official. With her help, and about a week before fall quarter 2025 started, Micheal enrolled in the college’s Automotive Technology program. He also received scholarships through the Wenatchee Valley College Foundation that helped him purchase the tools he needed for the program and his career.

WVC’s Automotive Technology program is led by professors Bob Greiner and Tom Doherty. The program, which is Automotive Service Excellence certified, offers a two-year associate degree and a one-year certificate of completion. “Bob and Tom have really put together a good program that covers enough of a range on the vehicles to where anybody that completes the program will be a proficient entry-level technician,” Micheal said. “And I think the more you know the why, the reasons behind how things work, you can, over time, specialize in what you’re most excited about.”

Micheal already has a plan in place for his own career after college: “When I get done with [the automotive technology program], I want to get my ASE and Emergency Vehicle Technician certifications. Then I want to open up my own business doing field and fleet mobile mechanic work for private sector wildland firefighters. Because during fire seasons, those guys don’t have the time to get an oil change on their truck when it’s due or change out the air filters and all of that.”

Micheal has a friend who owns a private sector wildland firefighting company who told him that supporting private companies “would be huge, not just for his business, but for the other small businesses.”

“I was talking with him and he’s like, ‘I’m gonna love you when you get done. Not going to sugarcoat it. Our trucks get messed up and they need fixing,” Micheal said. His friend has also started discussing preventative maintenance before the fire season. “I can grab my vehicle, my tools, [and] go out, try to fix it, or at least get it to where it can get off the line and continue doing the work that it’s needed for,” he said.

“I would also like the school to [start] the diesel mechanic course so I can enroll into that one as well, just so I’ve got more training to help me with my business ideas,” Micheal added.

Micheal and his fellow students in the automotive technology program, along with students who enroll in the program in 2027-28, will have the added bonus of learning and working in WVC’s new Center for Technical Education and Innovation (CTEI). The CTEI building will house several of WVC’s workforce education programs, including automotive technology, environmental systems and refrigeration technology, industrial technology, and welding.

“It does look like the way they’re trying to set it up is going to be a more efficient use of the space,” Micheal said. “We’re going to be training on newer equipment that we’re gonna be using once we get done with the program and get out into the workforce.”

He has also begun participating in more extracurricular activities. Micheal was invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa honor society for his high grade point average and gave a shout-out to PTK advisor Lenin Guzman for stepping in to the fill the advising role when former advisor Barbara Oldham retired and for bringing new ideas to the group, including sending members to the regional and national conventions. He also joined the eSports Club and is serving as the club’s president this year. Micheal is also a lifetime member of the local VFW hall, where he attends meetings and functions.

For non-traditional students who may be considering college later in life, Micheal said, “It doesn’t matter how old you are or how well you did in high school. Don’t be afraid of going back to school later in life.... You come back to school later in life [and] you’ve already got all those life experiences and skills that you can share with younger generations.... And you’re more focused, too. You know what you want and you’re just going to go get it.”

About Veterans Services

WVC Veterans Services helps students understand and use their VA education benefits. Get help with certification, benefit questions, and enrollment changes! “As WVC's School Certifying Official, I help veterans, active-duty service members, and their families navigate their VA education benefits, financial aid, and the enrollment process," said Jade Knell. "My goal is to make these processes a little less overwhelming and ensure students feel welcomed, supported, and confident as they work toward their educational goals.”

Learn more at www.wvc.edu/veterans