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Traditional learning isn’t the only way to a career, as several students in ˮ����’s new Aircraft Maintenance Technician program have shown. 

The first class started in August, after the announcement of its launch and a waitlist because of its demand. The field needs workers, and the workers make a lot of money– it’s unsurprising that a lot of people were interested.

What’s interesting is that in this first class, 70% are over the age of 19; 35% are over the age of 25. For those who decide to go back to college or attend for the first time after taking a break from schoolwork, it can be intimidating.

“How was it coming back to school? Horrifying,” shared Kahlon Ronholdt, one of the students in AMT this fall. Even though she had taken online college classes here and there after graduating from high school, she wasn’t sure how she would respond to the in-person structure.

She loves it.

“Trades programs are set up so differently than everything else. It’s a set schedule, set days, set times, same instructors. It’s so helpful that I don’t have to think about it very hard.”

Charley Vivar, from Columbia Heights, came to ˮ���� after he worked with aircraft in the Marine Corps. He commutes from Columbia Heights because ˮ���� is one of only a few colleges in the state with the program.

Both Charley and Kahlon came to ˮ���� after a break in schoolwork, but what they discovered is that in addition to learning, ˮ���� offers a strong, supportive community. Kahlon got a workstudy position at the Library. Charley—self-proclaimed introvert—has befriended several of his classmates. They both praise the support from instructor Spencer Diehl, both in the classroom format and in learning opportunities.

“Everyone here is welcoming, and you feel like you’re all kind of in the same boat learning this,” said Charley.

The classroom, of course, is just the preparation for a career, but the lessons beyond the book are a different kind of preparation. Spencer mentioned that the kinds of people who go into the Aircraft Mechanic field are detail oriented and enjoy working with their hands. These details students encounter during the transition to college is just one more approach to prepare for the transition to a career.

Change is also going to be a constant in the career, Spencer shared.

“When you graduate from the Aircraft program at ˮ����, you are given a license to learn. Once you have your certifications and degree in hand, there’s going to be a whole lot more you’ll have to learn,” he said. “That’s the exciting thing about aviation. In my 15 years in the airline industry, there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t learn something new.”

Armed with a degree from ˮ����, graduates have foundational knowledge and up to two FAA certifications. They’ve also learned to be lifelong learners.

“This is a life-changing thing. I didn’t think I was going to be doing this, but here I am, and I’m enjoying every day, every class, every lab session. I’m giving it my 100%,” Charley remarked.

Both Kahlon and Charley have already shown their willingness to learn with their initiative to return to college after a break, and the aviation industry is always changing. Success in a career is unlimited as long as those in it are willing to go along for the ride.