(WACO) – Josef Sammet, 27, of Maypearl is an Automotive Technology major at Texas State Technical College in Waco. He is scheduled to graduate in May with an associate degree and will work this summer on an Enhanced Skills Certificate in Automotive Technology – Advanced Vehicle Fuel Systems at the technical college. The Ellis County student is a 2008 graduate of Maypearl High School.
What got you interested in automotive technology? “I have always had a passion for cars. I have grown up around them with my father and older brother. My brother would work on and upgrade his Mustang. Automobiles seemed to be a more natural thing for me.”
How did you learn about TSTC? “When recruiters would go to my high school, a TSTC recruiter would be there. I didn’t want to go to a typical four-year university. I wanted some hands-on work.”
What have you enjoyed about your classes? “My knowledge has greatly expanded from what I had known. I’ve learned theories and have seen how these can be applied. I learn a lot more efficiently when I’m hands-on. Once I see how things need to be and I’m physically touching (engines and tools), that’s when things start clicking for me. When there are major issues going on, we try to diagnose them ahead of time and get a response and a fix for it.”
What made you decide to pursue an enhanced certificate this summer? “The way the industry is changing, we are seeing new advancements for hydrogen, electrical and alternative fuel vehicles. When the time comes, I will have that knowledge. Just understanding the hybrids and how they work and how to safely work on them is huge. It opens up more doors for me.”
What advice would you give to students considering the automotive industry as a career? “As long as they have an open mind and drive, it is a lot to learn to be able to apply the theories in the real world.”
Texas had at least 46,800 automotive technicians and mechanics in 2015, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Woodlands-Houston-Sugar Land area had at least 11,200 workers and the Dallas-Plano-Irving area had more than 7,100 employees, with both areas having the largest employment concentrations in the state.
For more information on Automotive Technology and other technical programs, go to tstc.edu.
