Congratulations Melanie

This is an article written about Dave's sister Melanie. She has excelled in automotive skills in a class in high school. She will be going to Kansas City soon to compete in a national competion. Read the article to find out more!

Student to show off her auto skills
Someone to meet in Lacey
By Diane Huber | Lacey Today • Published June 11, 2008



North Thurston High School senior Melanie Reid enrolled in an automotive class as a sophomore so she could learn some basics, such as how to change her oil and change a tire.


Other technical education honors

Seniors Ray Hicks and Andy Johnson, North Thurston High School, recently placed first in the Automotive Skills Challenge sponsored by Ford/AAA. Teams must accurately diagnose and repair a current model Ford in 90 minutes. This year, the vehicle used was a 2008 Ford Escape. Hicks and Johnson were the only team to locate and repair all system malfunctions. They will compete at the national level at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. For more information, go to www.skillsusa.org.

Video

To watch a video segment of North Thurston High School senior Melanie Reid, watch the June 12 OlyCast. Click on "Multimedia" and "Videos" at www.theolympian.com.

Soon she was hooked.

"I thought it was really fun to do the hands-on part. The thing that got me really hooked was the competitions. I started doing really well at it," she said.

SkillsUSA

Now a senior set to graduate Friday, she will attend the 2008 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference June 23 to 27 in Kansas City, a showcase of career and technical education students. More than 5,000 students will compete in 91 occupational and leadership skill areas.

Reid will give a presentation and demonstration on drum brake systems that won her first place in the statewide competition. Last year, she also went to nationals and scored 18th; this year, her goal is to do even better.

"Last year, I was really nervous to go. Everyone there is the best of the best. It's really nerve-wracking. ... (You wonder), am I really good enough to be here? Have I worked as hard as everybody else?" she said.

Judging

Judges will rank her based on how well she delivers the presentation and how well her demonstration meets industry standards, said automotive teacher Brian Stretch.

He said Reid has what it takes.

"Her public speaking is outstanding. She's very articulate, she's very good with people," Stretch said.

Life skills

He spoke highly of her life skills, as well.

"One of the things I'm most proud of is she makes good choices. She makes good choices in school; she makes good choices in life."

And she's not afraid to stand up to the boys in her advanced automotive technology class, where she's one of three girls out of 19 students. As an example, she put up a "No Profanity" sign on the wall of the auto shop.

"She's not afraid to speak her mind, but she does it in a nonoffensive manner," Stretch said.

Fellow students

Reid said being in class with mostly boys makes for a different environment than her other classes, but she doesn't mind the testosterone.

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love them all, but sometimes it gets annoying," she said.


Other technical education honors

Seniors Ray Hicks and Andy Johnson, North Thurston High School, recently placed first in the Automotive Skills Challenge sponsored by Ford/AAA. Teams must accurately diagnose and repair a current model Ford in 90 minutes. This year, the vehicle used was a 2008 Ford Escape. Hicks and Johnson were the only team to locate and repair all system malfunctions. They will compete at the national level at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations. For more information, go to www.skillsusa.org.

Video

To watch a video segment of North Thurston High School senior Melanie Reid, watch the June 12 OlyCast. Click on "Multimedia" and "Videos" at www.theolympian.com.

The class meets twice a week for two hours, and students work on their own cars and the cars of district employees. Last week, they checked out North Thurston principal Steve Rood's car, as well as several teachers' cars.

The advanced class gives students the opportunity to become General Service Technician certified through the National Automotive Technician's Education Foundation. The class covers engine repair, steering and suspension, electrical and brakes at industry level.

Stretch said the course gives students a good foundation for continuing at South Puget Sound Community College or another automotive program.

Career goals

Reid hopes to pursue a career in the computer side of the automotive industry. She said she doesn't have the upper body strength to do some of the same tasks as the boys, but she loves working the scan tool, a computer that plugs into the car and diagnoses the problem.

One of Reid's accomplishments was creating an electronic spreadsheet for tracking customers and invoices.

She plans to attend SPSCC, then transfer to Western Washington University's automotive engineering program. She received a Washington Award for Vocational Excellence scholarship, which is awarded to one student per legislative district.

She said pursuing a career in a male-dominated world has its perks. It's fun to surprise people with her knowledge of how cars run.

And she loves it when her older brother asks her to look under the hood for a leak or diagnose a strange sound.

"I think it's funny when he calls me and says, 'Hey, my car's making this funny noise. What is it?' "


Congrats again Melanie!

P.S. Sorry we can't make it to your graduation.