West-MEC graduate works with local dealership

By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

Over the past two decades, Avondale Toyota has employed more than 400 students from West-MEC and Universal Technical Institute, showcasing its role in shaping careers in the automotive industry. Currently, the dealership employs 27 UTI graduates, 11 current UTI students, and two West-MEC graduates as technicians.

West-MEC partners with 15 public school districts and two charter districts to provide a variety of Career and Technical Education programs.

Aidan Wooten is a Goodyear resident and a recent West-MEC graduate who got a job with Avondale Toyota as a Lube Technician. In his role, Wooten changes lube oil and filters, checks fluids and maintenance-related parts and performs service inspections or tests.

In West-MEC Wooten was placed in the automotive track after having high school experience.

“I just got lucky, I fell in love with it,” Wooten said. “My teachers were knowledgeable and experienced talked about how we would apply things we learned in labs to our own jobs.”

The Automotive Technology program teaches students essential skills in automotive repair and maintenance, offering options for college credit and industry certifications, with costs covered by West-MEC.

“It was a very easy transition between West-MEC and Avondale Toyota,” said Wooten.

While he works at Avondale Toyota, Wooten is taking a 52-week course at UTI to gain experience working with dealerships and get credentials more efficiently than doing internal training. Wooten will be taking the Manufacture Specific Accreditation Training exam for General Motors.

UTI serves students across its 16 campuses nationwide, focusing on quality education and practical training and industry needs.

Arizona's growing population and increasing number of vehicles create a strong demand for automotive technicians. With more cars on the road, the need for repairs and maintenance is crucial. As Avondale Toyota expands, it recognizes graduates from these programs who contribute to vehicle maintenance and safety for residents.