Meet a Trade and Technical Student
 
Amelia Mitchell, a graduate of Timpview High School, says her interest in the automotive industry began in high school when she was a class assistant to the auto teacher and found she liked talking to the guys in the class about off-roading and four-wheeling. “I picked up lots of knowledge by being around them and correcting tests," she said. It was then that Amelia decided to take a beginning automotive class during her senior year.

Amelia became involved in Skills USA, formerly VICA - Vocational Industrial Class of America, where in high school she was state president and continued to be involved in Skills USA throughout college. In her senior year, Amelia entered an automotive competition, sponsored by Weber State University, and scored among the top three students in her high school winning a trip to Long Beach, Calif., to attend the Grand Prix and tour the Toyota facility.

Amelia then entered college to pursue a degree in the automotive technology. She recently earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology from Weber State University. As a result of her leadership, involvement and success in Skills USA, her persistence in pursuing a career in a traditionally dominate male field, along with achieving a 3.83 grade point average, prior to graduation, seven high profile automotive companies vied to hire her including General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp., Harley-Davidson Motor Co., and Caterpillar. After serving a summer internship at Toyota and two internships with Caterpillar, Amelia accepted a position with Caterpillar beginning at $53,000 per year as a marketing representative specializing in truck-engine service.