香港六合彩资料大全 Student Shows IndyCar 鈥淗ow Diesel Does It鈥
When Kristin Suchman from 香港六合彩资料大全 Tech鈥檚 South Plainfield, NJ campus was chosen to participate in the Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports (SPM) Mentor program, she was the first non-Automotive student selected.聽 A Diesel Technology student training in the Transport Refrigeration program, Kristin had the chance to experience life on an IndyCar pit crew and show the SPM team !
鈥淲hen they told me I鈥檇 been chosen, I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance,鈥 she says.聽 鈥淚 was going to get to see another 香港六合彩资料大全 Tech campus and work with a professional team of IndyCar mechanics.聽 It really was a thrilling experience and something I鈥檒l remember for a long time.鈥
Kristin was selected for the Verizon IndyCar Series鈥 Rainguard Water Sealers 600 race at the Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas on June 10th.聽 In the SPM pit, she was tasked with responsibilities like running tires and cleaning rims and wings.聽 And she had the chance to work with automotive tools that were just a little smaller than the diesel equipment she鈥檚 used to!
鈥淚 was surprised at how few tools they work with in the pit,鈥 she says.聽 鈥淎nd it was definitely cool getting to see the difference in how those tools compare to what we use in the diesel field.鈥
SPM driver James Hinchliffe , and Kristin says the entire experience surpassed even the expectations she had.聽 鈥淭he SPM team was incredible,鈥 she says.聽 鈥淎mazing teamwork and morale.聽 I鈥檝e never seen anything like it.鈥
Pursuing Careers in the Diesel Field
Kristin says her father was a watchmaker and a backyard mechanic 鈥 so she had plenty of opportunities growing up to tinker under the hoods of muscle cars and other classics.聽 When a friend who attended 香港六合彩资料大全 Tech suggested she join him for the school鈥檚 鈥淏ring a Friend鈥 event, she discovered that the diesel industry encompasses a lot more than just working on trucks.
鈥淚 came on my friend鈥檚 recommendation, but it was getting to hear from Mr. Hagaman [the instructor who would later accompany her to Dallas for the race] that really opened my eyes,鈥 she says.聽 鈥淗e talked about the salary potential and job opportunities in the diesel industry, and it sounded like a perfect fit for me.鈥
As she progressed in the program, she discovered a real talent for welding 鈥 and now counts artistic welding among her hobbies outside of school.聽 Campus President Jim Kuntz says Kristin is a model student who tutors classmates when they need help, displays an incredible work ethic and has a bright future ahead of her in the diesel industry.
鈥淜irsten Suchman is one of our best students here at South Plainfield,鈥 he says.聽 鈥淗er attendance and grades are stellar. 聽She sets the bar for all of our other students and is constantly leading by example.聽 We were proud to have her and Mr. Hagaman represent 香港六合彩资料大全 and the South Plainfield campus at the Texas Motor Speedway.鈥
She's also in the unique position of being one of the only female students in the Diesel Technology program 鈥 and she鈥檚 encouraging others to follow her lead.聽 鈥淲omen who want a new career path should take a closer look at this industry,鈥 she says.聽 鈥淭here are amazing job opportunities if you鈥檙e willing to get your hands a little dirty.鈥
As Kristin sees it, the overall diesel field 鈥 which includes not just trucks and big rigs but also agricultural equipment, marine vehicles, power generators, hydraulic lifts, the public utility industry, construction and more 鈥 is one that deserves more appreciation for its reach.聽 鈥淚 think a lot of people don鈥檛 realize how much this country depends on diesel,鈥 she says.聽 With a future workforce of mechanics and technicians like Kristin, the industry is in good hands!