Dustan Biegler Memorial Scholarship

Embracing the Trades: A Thrilling Odyssey Beyond FedEx Imagine a world where every day feels like an adventure—a world where your hands shape and create, where you're at the forefront of a revolution that's redefining industries. That's the thrilling reality of the skilled trades for me. It's not just a job; it's an exhilarating journey that's become a part of who I am. What sets my pulse racing is the recognition of a widespread shortage of skilled labor in the United States. It's not just a problem; it's an urgent call to action echoing across industries. The demand for skilled professionals is soaring, and there's a glaring gap that needs passionate individuals. It's not just a challenge; it's an adrenaline-pumping opportunity to lead a revolution. This isn't merely about securing employment; it's about rewriting the script of how we view skilled work. America is in dire need of skilled workers, affecting vital sectors. Skilled tradespeople are the backbone of our infrastructure, the guardians of safety, and the engines of economic growth. My journey into the skilled trades was a leap into the extraordinary. Not long ago, I found myself behind the wheel of a FedEx delivery truck. It was a job that paid the bills, but it lacked the excitement of making a lasting impact. Enter my friend, Christian, the catalyst for my journey. He'd begun a traditional four-year degree but then veered onto a different path, becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT). His story showcased the rewards of pursuing your passion and mastering your craft. Inspired by Christian's transformation and driven by the pressing need for skilled workers, I embarked on my thrilling journey into the skilled trades, drawn to Aircraft Maintenance Technology. It's not just about my journey; it's about guiding others. I aspire to be a mentor, sharing my knowledge with emerging tradespeople. And then there's my family—a motivation that keeps me pushing forward. As I embrace this journey, particularly in light of becoming a parent, I'm propelled by the desire to provide a better life for my family. The skilled trades offer the promise of a brighter future for my wife and our newborn. It's not just about me; it's about creating opportunities and a legacy for generations to come. In conclusion, my commitment to the skilled trades, especially as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT), is about being part of a trade revolution that America needs. It's an opportunity to create a better future for my family, all while making a meaningful impact in an industry facing high demand and growth opportunities. This is a thrilling odyssey beyond FedEx, one filled with excitement, transformation, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

My passion for pursuing a career in the Construction or Skilled Trades fields mostly comes from my time spent with my father, Randy Metheny, as a young adult. He was a carpenter by trade and although he could build a house from the foundation up, he mostly just did the framing and roofing. He was always swinging a hammer. Tragedy struck my family on Spet. 23, 2008 when my father and younger brother were both killed in our home. I was also shot in the leg and later had to amputate below my knee. My life has not been easy since I lost my brother and father, which was also the same day that my brother and I both worked our first and last full day with our father. My dad was always so proud of the things he built and I was always amazed at what he could do with a little bit of wood, some nails and a hammer. I would like to be able to make him proud by following in his footsteps while also forging my own path by becoming a professional welder. Though my dad is where my passion for the Skill Trades ultimately stem, it has however, been my older brother, Michael Carlsen, that has been recently pushing me to go to school to become something more than what I have been these past 15 years. After getting shot and watching my brother and father die in front of me I fell into deep drug addiction due to both physical and mental anguish. In Jan 2022, I finally decided to amputate my left leg below the knee in order to rid myself of the physical anguish I had suffered from for so long. I've been clean since Nov 11, 2022. My older brother has been very supportive in my recovery and continues to help drive my focus into a better future for myself and my future family. In order to make this world a better place, I plan to use this career to strengthen our infrastructure. Pipe welding or dive welding is where I would like to end up. I want to see the world and help those in need of natural resources that can only be provided by the people with the skill to mold some of the most solid materials together in order to make a literal life line to provide something every person in this world should be able to have safe access to; water, electricity, gas and shelter. Having the skill to weld is going to take me around the world one day in order to help the people that need it the most. In conclusion, my time around my father as an adolescent, my older brother pushing me to become more than I am and my desire to travel the world and help those that are in need the most are the reasons why my passion for the Construction or Skilled Trades have led me to pursue a career in welding.

Hi my name is Ashley Heath-Flores, I am a 33 yr old woman living in New Mexico, who is going to be going to college this fall for welding. I've had alot of set backs over the last few years and haven't been able to pursue my career goals because of it. I've always enjoyed working with my hands, as my father had taught me alot growing up. He used to let me watch and help him with small jobs he was doing as a construction worker and taught me how to use some tools. He had always taught me to be self sufficient and to follow my dreams. He was a construction worker, had his own company and did some welding on the side. I've always been interested in welding since then and decided it's something I'd like to pursue as a career, and had always been told its not possible for someone like me since I am small and have health issues. But I want to prove I am capable and just...why not? Its always been an interest to me, so why not make it a career? I want to be able to provide and take care of my family and show my nieces and nephews that you can do anything you set your mind to. I want to show them that over anything else, be yourself and don't let anything get in your way or keep you from living your life and making your dreams become reality. I have several factors against me going into this field , but take pride in showing people I can do anything and proving that despite my small size and being a female I am capable. I believe I can help other women or people who have had alot of set backs in life like me, by showing them that if you focus and fight hard enough for your dreams they can still happen. I wanna show people that persistence and determination go a long way and to not limit yourself. I've worked most of my life in warehouses and manufacturing. I ran machines making clamps and ears for solar panels, learned what to look for in the material and do basic quality control on my work, I have also done small maintenance repairs on these machines, and have some maintenance experience to go with it. I've also learned blueprint reading and understanding measurements and work orders.