Success Stories

After the 2015 Bridges Career Exploration Day, myself and a few employer partners were working on cleaning up the automotive lab at CLC. A high school student (10th grade at the time) that I remember from one of the activities earlier in the day came into the shop because he just wanted to see the shop one more time. Myself and an employer helping me clean up asked the young student why he was there, and he said that he never knew the transportation industry was so high tech and that the employers were willing to talk with young kids.

He had no family history, background, or experience working on things at all. He continued to ask questions and have a conversation with both of us about the career pathway, what employers are looking for, and what the various jobs look like. He asked questions about what the relationship was like between the employer and the college, and wanted to know what courses in high school he should be taking if he wants to explore and learn the basics.

Fast forward 3 years later and that same young student is now an adult, enrolled in the college program, working part-time at that same employer he talked with after hours, and nearing graduation. The employer says that once he is ready to graduate, he is going to hire him on full-time and enroll him into professional development courses on his road to becoming a master technician.

— Chris Hadfield, Ed.M., Director
Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence