Program Details

Jonathan Squire wanted to take classes at Wabash Valley College to become a Diesel Equipment Technician. Along with the tuition, books, lab fees, and other supplies needed for the classes, he knew there would be one more huge expense: tools! Jonathan contacted the Wayne County WADI office to see if he could receive help with college from the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program.

Since Jonathan recently graduated from high school, he was unemployed and interested in the Work Experience Program offered by WIOA. Jonathan was placed at Charles H. Carter & Son Trucking, Inc. in Fairfield for Work Experience. He earned a salary paid by the WIOA Program while learning and working on diesel equipment. Working hands-on with the equipment at Carter’s gave Jonathan a better understanding of what the instructor was teaching in the classroom.

Jonathan kept his grades up, turning in only A’s and B’s every semester. He completed additional Work Experience as one of the required courses, Supervised Work Experience. During the time he needed to fill his class requirement, he was placed at William J. Hodgson Trucking, Inc. in Crossville. He always received outstanding reports on all his work, punctuality, and ability to work with others.

Jonathan received several certificates for different achievements, including Mobile Air Conditioning Society A/C (MACS), Snap-On Meter, Bendix Brake Systems, Conmet Truck & Trailer, and Cummins, to name a few. Jonathan is in his final semester of classes and will graduate in May 2023 with his Associate in Applied Science Degree/Diesel Equipment Technology from Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, IL. He has a very bright future ahead of him and has made his Career Planner very proud!

Submitted by Career Planner Ryan Douthitt