APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – More than a dozen high school students in the Fox Valley area received either a college certificate or a diploma Thursday.
Theo Kretzmann is just weeks away from finishing high school in Omro, but he’s already getting a college diploma.
“It’s good, I’m getting a head start, most students aren’t even started yet.”
Kretzmann and 4 others are the first group of high school students to graduate from the Fox Valley Tech’s 2-year ‘Automotive Youth Education Systems’ program.
Ten other high schoolers received a technician certificate, for their first year, including Zeb Punzel of Fox Valley Lutheran High School.
“It’s really cool that I can really further my education while I’m still in high school and do what I really want to do which is working on cars.”
The students come to campus 3 days a week, earning 16 college credits by the end of the 2-year program.
Bergstrom Automotive helps pay some of the tuition including books and transportation.
Fox Valley Technical College Instructor Todd Schroeder tells FOX 11 technician demand in the automotive industry is not going away.
“Fox Valley Technical College and surrounding colleges, we don’t even graduate enough students to really put a dent in the demand for technicians.”
According to Wisconsin TechConnect, there are 345 full-time and 96 part-time job openings in the automotive technician field.
Although students are anxious to fill those demands, they say there’s still room for learning.
“Next year I’ll be back at the tech for another two semesters of courses,” said Punzel.
“After that, I can either get a job or get higher level classes here at the tech for more specialized field.”
Coming up this weekend, more colleges and universities will be holding graduation ceremonies.
NWTC in Green Bay has one today.
On Saturday, it’s UW-Green Bay and UW-Oshkosh. Then on Sunday, students from St. Norbert and Ripon Colleges will be wearing the cap and gown.
