August

Month: August 2019

Student profile: Daimler Trucks North America ‘Finish First’ scholarship recipient Twyla

 

Student receives Daimler Trucks North America ‘Finish First’ scholarship

 

Meet Twyla. Thanks to TechForce Foundation’s “Daimler Trucks North America ‘Finish First’ MSAT” Scholarship, Twyla completed her advanced technician training earlier this summer and is now pursuing her dream of a career as a professional transportation technician.

 

A portrait of Twyla, recipient of Daimler Trucks North America's Finish First Scholarship

TechForce Foundation heard from Twyla before her graduation, as she reflected on her career choice and the doors her scholarship opened for her.

 

“Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been fascinated with the concept of how things work, how they interact with each other, and being able to take things apart and put them back together. I used to watch my stepdad repair vehicles in his garage as a child.” Twyla said, explaining how she first discovered her interest in transportation technician careers. “As I got older, I became more and more interested in learning how components work and worked with each other. Now that I am pursuing my dreams of being a technician, I want to pass down the knowledge to my daughter.”

 

“…being a technician… is like doing a puzzle. You figure out what the problem is, and then you fix it. I love it!”

Like many aspiring technicians Twyla began her education on her own in her garage at home in New Mexico. When Twyla was admitted to a professional technician training program in Phoenix, Ariz. Twyla was faced with a new set of challenges, not the least of which was the time away from family.

 

“Moving away from home has, by far, been the hardest obstacle I have ever had to overcome,” said Twyla. “I put my life on hold to get an education so I can provide a good future for my daughter. Being away from her is a hard obstacle, but knowing how much she looks up to me is what motivates me to keep going.”

 

Despite facing these challenges, once on campus Twyla chose to donate her time, insight and technical expertise to support her classmates, “I am a Peer Mentor to other students here on campus. I listen and give advice whenever students come to me with questions or for help.”

 

Twyla completed her manufacturer’s advanced training earlier this summer. “I really enjoy working on diesels/trucks. To me, being a technician… diagnosing and repairing a fault is like doing a puzzle. You figure out what the problem is, and then you fix it. I love it!”

 

Congratulations, Twyla! Thank you Daimler Trucks North America for your support of transportation technician students and Career and Technical Education through TechForce Foundation’s scholarships.

 

To apply for TechForce Foundation scholarships, visit techforce.org/scholarships

 

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TechForce Foundation announces sponsorship of TMCFutureTech skills competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TechForce Foundation® announces sponsorship of TMCFutureTech
skills competition for 3rd straight year

Expands support of nationwide competition for students in diesel technician programs

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., August 15, 2019 — TechForce Foundation®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to champion students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians in the transportation industry has once again pledged their support of the TMCFutureTech national student technician competition as title sponsor. Hosted by the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), the competition is going strong in its 6th year, having begun in 2014. Approximately 60 students are expected to compete on September 16th in Raleigh, N.C. The format includes testing written knowledge as well as hands-on diagnostic skills. It is a competition that has proven to draw the best and brightest young students from around the country to compete. Many past participants have been immediately hired by some of the top employers in the trucking industry, and gone on to have rewarding careers.

According to Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation, “The competition is a prime example of what can be accomplished when organizations from across an industry come together with a single-minded purpose. In this case, that purpose is a commitment to support skills development in the young men and women who will be our future technicians of tomorrow.” Many of the companies that assist in running the skills testing stations, donating their time and equipment are competitors in the marketplace every day. However, that is all put aside for the greater cause when it comes to working together in the competition.

TechForce has also doubled down on its involvement this year. In addition to the title sponsorship, it has set up a new online sponsorship process. This allows interested individuals or organizations from industry to easily sign up to sponsor one or more students in the competition. This is especially important, as all contestants must be sponsored to enter. Sponsors are able to pay online by credit card, and as TechForce is a 501(c)(3) foundation, receipts are provided to sponsors for tax donation purposes. Further information on sponsorships is available at techforce.org/TMC2019

About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $2.0 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and is spearheading FutureTech Success®, the industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit techforce.org.

About TMC
TMC is America’s premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. Comprised of a broad cross-section of experienced fleets, equipment suppliers and service providers, no other industry trade association can match the real-world experience and technical expertise of TMC’s membership. By providing leadership support and opportunities to collaborate, TMC helps members develop the industry’s best practices that address the critical truck technology and maintenance issues that have the greatest impact on truck fleets. For more than 60 years, TMC’s member-driven Recommended Maintenance and Engineering Practices have been setting the standards that help trucking companies specify and maintain their fleets more effectively. Find out more about TMC online at tmc.trucking.org.

Media Contacts
For TechForce Foundation: Mike Pressendo, mpressendo@techforce.org, 623-445-9354 or 602-363-8861

For TMC: Robert Braswell, rbraswel@trucking.org, 703-838-1776

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