Questions #1-4: My goal is to become a full-time diesel technician and earn my ASE certifications. I plan to continue working while attending Madison College in the Medium/Heavy Diesel program this fall. I’m especially interested in diesel systems and advanced diagnostics, where there’s always something new to learn. Over the past 1-2 years, my interest and abilities in the automotive world have grown exponentially. Although school was a challenge for me, things improved when I was able to enroll in the trades. My high school offered welding and auto classes, and for the first time, I wanted to be there. I was drawn to the hands-on problem solving and the process of figuring things out. That interest kept growing the more time I spent working on engines, and I wanted to tinker on anything I could get my hands on. What began as curiosity quickly turned into something more. I started bringing home free curbside lawn mowers, modifying my bike with an engine—and then a bigger engine—and spending hours figuring out how things worked and how to fix them when they didn’t. I realized early on that I enjoyed the challenge of diagnosing problems and the satisfaction of getting something running again. My parents saw that shift and supported it. They gave me space in the garage and helped me get started with tools. I spent a summer working at Valvoline Oil change doing lube jobs, and during the school year at Farm and Fleet in the auto department. I wasn’t allowed to start on engine work until I was 18. At that point, I was able to graduate early in January and started working in the service department at a Subaru dealership. My hours are 6:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., which some people questioned the early hours, but for me it’s been easy because I like going to work. Every day, I try to learn something new and improve my skills. This experience has made it clear that this is the path I want to continue. I am enrolled and in Fall 2026 will start at in the Med/Heavy Diesel Associate program at Madison College. The program offers paid externships, and I will continue to work on my projects and builds during my spare time. Of course, most of my paycheck goes right back into a project. I bought a 2002 Chevy Silverado farm truck that needs a lot of work. I have fixed the door lock, replaced a mismatched door, changed the oil, replaced the filters and tires. The diagnostics and problem solving is where I thrive. I figured out that the fuel injector pressure was low and swapped it out. Because my truck is rusted out, there was no way I could access it the traditional way. I determined where the unit was located, cut a hole in the truck bed, and was able to swap it out. I then carefully welded the piece back on taking great care. I have attached a link a 2-minute video highlighting my projects. It’s shows so much more than what I can put into an essay. I hope that you watch and enjoy! https://drive.google.com/file/d/10cfkl-Y-CkxBb70-9KKluJ34ZakFXJNA/view?usp=sharing Question #5. My high school advisor, Jon Stokes has been a mentor for me. His full email is attached, but says I am “a resilient, smart and determined young man who will find success in whatever he chooses with the key words being what he chooses. He has shown that when he is doing something he is passionate about he will put forth his full effort and determination!!” If my older brother were alive, he too would tell you why I deserve this scholarship. I didn’t lose him in a motorcycle accident like you did Joe, but I lost him to suicide. He was 20, I was 8. As Mr. Stokes says in his letter, I went from a place of despair to forward growth finding self-confidence, enjoyment, and light. But auto has done so much more than that. It’s opened my communication with my parents, helped me connect and find friends, and feel like I’m alive. Whether I found it or it found me, I am just so thankful. Thank you for considering me for the Joe Ford Scholarship.

My passion for the automotive industry started when I was 16, working on small engines and anything I could get my hands on. What began as curiosity quickly turned into something more. I started bringing home free curbside lawn mowers, modifying my bike with an engine—and then a bigger engine—and spending hours figuring out how things worked and how to fix them when they didn’t. I realized early on that I enjoyed the challenge of diagnosing problems and the satisfaction of getting something running again. I didn’t always feel motivated in school, and I struggled at times with direction. That started to change once I found something that actually interested me. My high school offered welding and auto classes, and for the first time, I wanted to be there. I was drawn to the hands-on problem solving and the process of figuring things out. That interest kept growing the more time I spent working on engines. My parents saw that shift and supported it. They gave me space in the garage and helped me get started with tools. I was able to graduate early in January and started working in the service department at a Subaru dealership. My hours are 6:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which some people questioned, but for me it’s been easy because I actually like going to work. Every day, I try to learn something new and improve my skills. This experience has made it clear that this is the path I want to continue. Of course, most of my paycheck goes right back into a project. I bought a 2002 Chevy Silverado farm truck that needs a lot of work, including fixing the door lock, changing the oil, replacing the filters and tires, and swapping out a fuel injector. Along the way, I picked up habits like staying organized and paying attention to detail, but more importantly, I realized this was something I genuinely enjoyed. My goal is to become a full-time diesel technician and earn my ASE certifications. I plan to continue working while attending Madison College in the Medium/Heavy Diesel program this fall. I’m especially interested in diesel systems and advanced diagnostics, where there’s always something new to learn. The automotive industry fits me because the work is hands-on, and your effort shows in what you do. Beyond my own career, I also value the community side of the automotive industry. People like Chip Miller helped build a culture where enthusiasts, technicians, and learners come together through shared passion. As I grow in this field, I hope to contribute in that same way—whether by helping others learn, sharing knowledge, or finding better, smarter ways to solve problems. This field has given me direction and confidence. I want to continue building a career where I can keep improving my skills, solve real problems, and do work I’m proud of.