August 8 event offered to introduce Diesel Technology to women, other learners

Hanceville, AL — Wallace State Community College’s Diesel Technology program will host a Women in Diesel Meet and Greet on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, for women interested in learning more about the program and the high-demand, high-wage careers available to them. The event will be held in the Diesel Technology shop from 5 to 7 p.m.

Attendees will be able to meet with instructors, tour the facility, and apply and register for classes and financial aid. A representative from Southland International will also be on hand to talk about potential job opportunities.

The Women in Diesel initiative is geared toward increasing the number of women and adult learners in diesel technology training and is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Wallace State also partnered with the National Institute of Women in Trades, Technology, and Sciences to increase the diversity of students entering the Diesel Technology program, ultimately providing more opportunities and jobs for women and other adult learner populations under-represented in the diesel technology field.

“Alabama's trucking industry needs the best and brightest to keep our technologically advanced fleet working safely on the roads,” says Mark Colson, President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association. “The best and the brightest are often women and they now have a designated pathway to becoming a diesel tech: the Wallace State Hanceville Diesel Technology program. It's the best route for women to join the team that keeps Alabama moving forward.”

In the last two years, 14 women have enrolled in the Wallace State Diesel Technology program, with most of them earning certifications. Four will graduate with associate degrees within the next semester and several are already working in the field.

While some potential female students may be worried about the strength necessary to complete tasks, Diesel by Distance coordinator Anna Beard said those are obstacles than can be overcome.

“There are tools that all diesel technicians, men and women, use every day to help with jobs such as moving large tires or engines,” Beard said. “There are many ways technicians can adapt tasks to make completing them a little bit easier.”

Though geared mainly toward introducing women to the field of diesel mechanics, the Women in Diesel Meet and Greet is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about the Diesel Technology program.

The hybrid option of the program, Diesel by Distance, enables students to complete their work online and attend labs at night or on weekends for those working through the week. Students enrolled in either option of the program can choose to attend full- or part-time.

Other highlights about the program and career:

• 95 percent of graduates with a Diesel Technology degree go on to work in positions with a starting pay of $16 to $24/hour. Master technicians can make up to $100,000

• Employer demand is so high that current Wallace State Diesel Technology students are receiving job offers before they complete their degree.

• Education program ranges from four months to 2 years, with day, evening, and weekend classes available.

• Scholarships and financial aid are available to pay for most student's tuition

• No diesel technology experience required

To sign up for the Aug. 8 meet and greet, visit www.wallacestate.edu/womenindieselinfo and fill out the form there confirm your registration for the event. For more information, contact Beard at 256.352.8356 or anna.parrish@wallacestate.edu.

The WSCC Diesel Technology program has a 100 percent job placement. For more information about the program, visit www.wallacestate.edu/diesel or call 256.352.8063.

Registration for the Fall 2023 semester in underway. Fall classes begin Aug. 18. For more information, visit www.wallacestate.edu, call 256.352.8000 or come by Lion Central in the lobby of the James C. Bailey Center Monday-Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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This work was 100% funded and supported by The National Science Foundation under ATE Grant DUE #2100297 in the amount of $279,336 awarded to Wallace State Community College-Hanceville. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.