From the time I was very young, I’ve always been drawn to anything with wheels. I grew up riding dirt bikes in the hills of Northern California, and early on, I had to learn how to fix my own bike if I wanted to keep riding. What started as a love for the sport quickly turned into a deeper passion for fixing, building, and reviving anything with wheels and a motor. That passion has grown into a career goal: to build a name for myself in the diesel and off-road industry. I’m currently attending WyoTech, studying Diesel Technology and Applied Service Management. Before that, I completed Diesel Technology courses at Santa Rosa Junior College while working full-time. Balancing both school and work has been challenging, but it’s taught me how to stay focused, work hard, and make the most of the opportunity. I’ve learned that success in this trade comes from showing up, putting in the work, and always being open to learning something new. During high school, I worked at 707 Racing Suspension under my mentor, Joel Burkett. That job gave me a real look into how a shop runs and gave me the chance to develop more mechanical skills. I learned how to rebuild suspension systems on dirt bikes, fine-tune setups for racing, and understand the details that make a dirt bike perform at its best. I also worked at races, helping riders make last-minute adjustments. Seeing my work directly impact someone's performance was a moment I won’t forget, it showed me how rewarding giving back can be. In my free time, I’ve taken on full builds, including a ‘98 Dodge Ram 2500 and a ‘79 Toyota 4WD. These projects weren’t just about learning but they were about doing something I genuinely love. I enjoy problem-solving, fabricating, and bringing a vehicle back to life. I also help a lot of my friends when they are working on rebuilding vehicles and find it really rewarding to mentor others with the same interest. One thing I’ve come to realize is how important the trades are, especially now. There’s a huge shortage of skilled workers in automotive and diesel, and thousands of trade jobs are going unfilled. I see that as a huge opportunity—not just for myself, but for my generation. A career in the trades offers real-world skills, job security, and the chance to contribute something meaningful. As I master this trade, I want to give back by helping others get into it. I do love teaching others what I have learned, or as my mom says "professing" how the mechanics of a vehicle work. I’ve already volunteered at District 36 Cross Country XC races and helped out with events like the Gualala River Run, and I plan to keep doing that. In the future, I hope to mentor younger students, support local off-road events, and eventually offer internships or job opportunities through my own shop. I want to pay forward the mentorship and experience I’ve been lucky to receive. This isn’t just a job path—it’s something I truly am passionate about. With continued training, hands-on experience, and support like this scholarship, I’m building a future doing what I love and helping others do the same.

From the time I was very young I was always drawn to anything with wheels. I grew up riding dirt bikes in the hills of Northern California and I had to learn to fix my own dirt bike to be able to ride. What started as a love for riding quickly turned into a passion for fixing, building, and reviving anything with wheels and a motor. That passion has grown into a goal: to build a name and career in the diesel and off-road industry. Right now, I’m attending WyoTech, where I’m focused on Diesel Technology and Applied Service Management. Before that, I studied Diesel Technology at Santa Rosa Junior College while working full-time. It’s been a challenge to keep up but I know the hard work and long horse will pay off. I’ve learned that success in this field comes from putting in the time and effort, staying hands-on, and always being willing to learn. For most of my high school years, I worked at 707 Racing Suspension under my mentor Joel Burkett. That experience was a great opportunity to see how a business operates and to learn more mechanic skills. I learned how to rebuild dirt bike suspension systems, dial in setups for racing, and really pay attention to the details that make a machine perform at its best. I’ve also helped at races, working with riders to make last-minute suspension adjustments. Being able to apply what I’ve learned in real-world situations showed me how rewarding this career can be. Outside of work, I’ve rebuilt trucks, dirt bikes, and off-road vehicles—including a full build on a ‘98 Dodge Ram 2500 and a ‘79 Toyota 4WD. I’ve taken on these projects not just to build my skills, but because I genuinely enjoy the process. I like figuring out what’s wrong, fixing it, and then bringing that vehicle to life again. It’s the kind of satisfaction you can’t really explain unless you’ve experienced it and truly love it. One thing I’ve come to realize is how important the trades are right now. There’s a serious shortage of skilled workers, especially in automotive and diesel. Thousands of jobs are out there waiting for people who are willing to get their hands dirty and do the work. I think it’s a huge opportunity for my generation. A career in the trades means job security, real-world skills, and a way to make a difference. I’m proud to be part of that next wave of workers who are gaining the skills to bridge the gap. I bring a lot to the table: a strong work ethic, mechanical know-how, and the drive to keep improving. I take pride in doing things the right way, and I’m not afraid to ask questions or figure things out when the answer isn’t obvious. I’ve also learned how important it is to be dependable—whether I’m working in a shop, volunteering at a race, or helping out in the community at events like the Gualala River Run. This isn’t just a job path for me—it’s what I love to do. I see myself building a career where I can not only work on vehicles but also push limits, take on bigger projects, and eventually run my own shop or lead a team. This scholarship would help me stay focused on school and keep building toward that future, one step at a time.

Braaaap! Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been crazy about anything with wheels and a motor—dirt bikes, trucks, backhoes, you name it. If it roared, I wanted to tear it apart and figure out how it ticked. Everyone kept pushing me toward a four-year Mechanical Engineering degree, but that wasn’t me. I’m not built for lectures; I learn by getting my hands dirty, turning wrenches, and bringing machines back to life. That’s why I chose Diesel Technology at WyoTech. My future’s about horsepower, not slideshows. When in-person school shut down in 2020, I saw my shot. Instead of wasting time, I started working at 707 Racing Suspension, to gain hands-on experience working on dirt bikes. It wasn’t just a job, it was my classroom for the next two years. I soaked up every lesson, and it solidified my love for this stuff. There’s nothing like firing up an engine you’ve resuscitated or hearing a machine purr because of your work. I want a career where I can see that payoff daily, and this trade delivers just that. Plus, skilled trades are in demand with steady work and room to grow. Someday, I’d love to help others break into it, especially people who don’t realize it’s an option. I didn’t grow up in a privileged household where money came easy. If I wanted a truck or bike, I had to buy it myself and fix it myself. That meant buying junkers, troubleshooting, and grinding to get them running. At 16, I got a real test after a crash totaled my truck. I rebuilt it from the frame up with my own money and YouTube as my guide—swapped the cab and bed, rewired the dash, all of it. It was a challenge, but I drive that truck today and even took it three states to WyoTech to chase this dream. I’m now in Advanced Diesel Technology, building the skills to make this my life’s work. But good tools cost a fortune, and this scholarship would help me gear up without the stress. It’d let me focus on getting better, not being stressed about money. I’ve always been a hustler with part-time jobs, learning from seasoned mechanics, or tweaking a project until it’s just right. This field takes dedication and hands-on grit, and I’ve got both in spades! This scholarship would ease the financial strain and feel like a nod to my potential. I’m optimistic about where this trade can take me, and I’m ready to grab every opportunity. Thanks for considering me and for backing kids who live to do the dirty work that makes the world go around.

I've never been afraid of hard work. Growing up in a one-parent household, money was always tight, so if I wanted something, I had to earn it myself. I got my first job at fifteen to support my passion for racing dirt bikes, building trucks, and learning everything I could about diesel engines. The balance between school and work was pretty tiring, but this happened in 2020 when most schools were holding online classes. I had also been diagnosed with Lyme’s Disease in 2020 after being sick for a few months, so I was already in an online high school program. The work experience solidified that I do love working on vehicles and solving mechanical problems. Working on diesel engines is a passion I have had since learning about them and the story of the Cummins motor. I am fascinated by how they work. While working on any vehicle can be very difficult and frustrating at times, it is very satisfying to diagnose and fix a problem. Working at 707 Racing Suspension gave me some great experience and showed me that I would like to own my own business one day. Learning that my mentor built a premier dirt bike suspension business from the ground up made me more determined to pursue my degree in Diesel Technology and build a high-performance diesel business. My long-term goal is to build a future in the high-performance diesel industry. I would like to build a brand that diesel truck owners recognize worldwide. In the short-term I would like to start out with a large company as a fly-in fly-out mechanic. I plan on doing this for at least five years to save money and refine my vision for my own business. This will help me to see how successful companies operate on a larger scale and give me real-world experience. Ultimately, I want build top-tier diesel machines and help the next generation of mechanics get started in the industry. I started my college career at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Diesel Technology program and learned that I needed more hands-on learning than they provide. We knew WyoTech is the most highly regarded trade school for auto and diesel technology. I am now enrolled and have moved three states away to attend WyoTech. It was a very big step for me but I knew it was the right decision. This scholarship would help alleviate some of the current financial pressures so that I can better focus on learning and make the most of this golden opportunity. I am a person who believes success is mostly earned and I have always been willing to work hard to move in a positive direction and reach my goals. This Frederick and Bernice Beretta Memorial Scholarship I can continue down the path toward my dream and make it a reality…and make Frederick and Bernice proud as a hard-working contributor to society.