(WACO) – Texas State Technical College in Waco student Willie Hutchinson has taken the discipline he learned in the military and applied it to the precision of bringing vehicles back to life.
“I have a passion for cars and wanted to learn collision repair and how to fix them structural-wise,” he said about his career choice.
Hutchinson, 44, of Waco was among 58 recipients nationwide to receive the 3M Hire Our Heroes award sponsored by the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division and the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The award’s goal is to raise awareness of the work that military veterans can do in the auto collision industry, according to 3M.
Hutchinson will receive up to $1,500 in work tools.
“The tool grant is something I cherish,” Hutchinson said. “I never won too much of anything.”
Hutchinson applied for the award after being encouraged by Clint Campbell, chair of TSTC’s Auto Collision Technology program.
“Going out and working in the profession, Willie is going to make somebody a good technician,” Campbell said.
Campbell said student veterans, like Hutchinson, exhibit maturity and a good sense of organization.
“The military members are trained to be early,” Campbell said. “They look out for other students. It is more of a teamwork effort.”
Hutchinson is scheduled to graduate in August with a certificate in Auto Collision Repair. Some of the topics he has learned include structural analysis, repair estimating and alignment.
“It’s been what I expected and more, learning about the collision industry and care and how to protect vehicles from erosion,” he said.
After graduation, Hutchinson wants to work in a body shop and return to TSTC to study auto body refinishing.
Hutchinson grew up in Kosciusko, Mississippi, among three siblings and other relatives.
“Kosciusko is a small town, probably not different than any other small country towns,” he said. “There was not much to get into.”
He graduated in 1990 from McAdams High School in nearby Sallis, Mississippi and quickly joined the military because of his friends and the ability to get money for college.
“It turned out to be one of the best things I have done in my life,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson retired in May 2015 from the U.S. Army after 24 years and 11 months, earning the rank of major. His last post was at Fort Hood and he has also been stationed in Georgia and Kentucky. He worked the last decade of his military career in computer communication. During his military time, he served four tours of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“I liked training the young soldiers and seeing the American flag lowered and raised,” Hutchinson said.
Summer Commencement for TSTC campuses in Waco, North Texas, Williamson County and Fort Bend County is at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19, at the Waco Convention Center on Washington Avenue.
