July Wrap-Up: Looking Back and Looking Ahead for TechKnowledge
July Wrap-Up: Looking Back and Looking Ahead for TechKnowledge
July was a busy month for the TechKnowledge program at Lake Area Technical College, and it’s exciting to see everything coming together as we head into another school year. Between two successful summer camps, students wrapping up their first year, and a new class getting ready to begin, there’s a lot happening across the program.
A Great Month of Summer Camps
Throughout July, we welcomed high school students from across the region to campus for our TechKnowledge Summer Camps. Students from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska spent the day working alongside current TechKnowledge students, getting hands-on experience in the shop and seeing what life is really like in the program.
Whether they were learning about HVAC systems or machine technology, campers had the chance to work with real equipment, ask questions, and experience the type of training that prepares our students for careers as diesel technicians. It’s always rewarding to watch students discover an interest they may not have known they had before walking through the shop doors.
A big thank you goes out to our current students and instructors who helped make both weeks such a success.
One Chapter Ends, Another Begins
As July comes to a close, so does the summer session for our current first-year TechKnowledge students.
Over the past year they’ve built a strong foundation in the classroom and the shop, learning the skills that will continue to grow throughout the rest of the program. Now they begin the next step of their journey as they head out for their eight-week internship rotations at their sponsoring dealerships.
These internships give students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in a real dealership environment while continuing to gain valuable hands-on experience alongside experienced technicians.
When they return, they’ll officially begin their second year in the TechKnowledge program.
Welcoming the Next Class
While one group heads out into the field, another is getting ready to walk through the doors for the first time.
On August 24, we will welcome our newest first-year TechKnowledge students to Lake Area Technical College. This incoming class includes students sponsored by all three of our dealership groups—Kibble Equipment, Valley Plains Equipment, and Platte Valley Equipment.
Each student is beginning the same journey with the goal of becoming a highly skilled diesel technician while building a career with one of our dealerships. It’s always exciting to meet a new class and watch them grow from day one into confident technicians over the next two years.
Looking Ahead
The transition from one class to the next is one of the things that makes the TechKnowledge program so unique. While experienced students are gaining real-world experience during internships, a new group is just beginning their own path toward a career in the diesel industry.
We’re looking forward to another great year of learning, growth, and hands-on experience. To all of our returning students heading out on internships and our incoming first-year class, welcome to another exciting year of TechKnowledge.
