A trio of students who recently graduated from college can attest to the merits of Midland College’s (MC) dual credit Career & Technology Education (CTE) program.
According to a MC news release, Warren CAT diesel tech trainees Felix Campos, Fidel Gardea de la Cruz, and Royce Knight SAY the CTE program helped them obtain diesel technology skills two weeks before they graduated from Midland High School in May. The trio now have full-time jobs in a sector that caters to manufacturing, construction, facilities maintenance, aviation, and energy while they continue to pursue associate degrees in applied science.
"The CTE dual credit program at Midland College is an incredible opportunity for students to jumpstart their careers while still in high school," Erick Gutierrez, MC program chair of Automotive, Diesel & Energy Technology, SAID. "Through partnerships like the one with Warren CAT, our students gain hands-on experience, professional mentorship and financial support to pursue their education in high-demand fields like Diesel Technology. This collaboration empowers students to enter the workforce with the skills and confidence they need to succeed, creating a direct pathway from the classroom to the industry."
There will be about 25,600 openings for diesel technicians annually based on a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Texas alone, salaries range from $40,000 to over $100,000 within the roughly 21,180 diesel technician jobs.
Campos SAID: "Since we work full-time, we take our Midland College classes online and at night. It’s definitely worth it because once we have our associate degrees, we will earn a higher salary and be even more in demand."