April 24, 2023, CRESTON, Iowa—Southwestern Community College (SWCC) automotive students Ethan Mitchell of Afton and Wyatt Vasey of Winterset were honored as the 2023 SWCC Tech Achievers during a ceremony held on Friday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m., in the college’s automotive department, located in the SWCC Instructional Center.
Ethan Mitchell of Afton, a May 2021 graduate of East Union High School, began taking college courses at SWCC during the summer of 2019. Mitchell earned a certificate in welding technology in June 2020. Following high school graduation, he entered the auto collision repair/refinish program as a full-time student. Mitchell earned his diploma in auto collision repair/refinish in June 2022; will earn his Associate of Applied Science degree in auto collision repair/refinish in May 2023; and his Associate of Applied Science in automotive repair technology in June 2023. Upon graduation, Mitchell will work for Karl Chevrolet in Stuart. He is the son of Scott and Melanie Mitchell of Afton.
Wyatt Vasey of Winterset is a May 2022 Winterset High School graduate. He began taking courses in the SWCC automotive technology Career Academy during the fall 2020 semester. He earned a certificate in automotive repair in April 2021. Upon high school graduation, Vasey became a full-time student in the automotive repair technology program. He earned a diploma in automotive repair technology in December 2022. He will complete the program, earning his Associate of Applied Science Degree in automotive repair technology, in June 2023. Following graduation, Vasey will be employed by Vogel Garage in Murray. He is the son of Carla & David Vasey of Winterset.
The SWCC Tech Achiever award was established through SWCC’s Education Foundation by Nile Cornelison of Minneapolis, who attended SWCC (at that time known as Creston Junior College) from 1960-62. Cornelison started an automotive parts business in Creston and sold to auto enthusiasts across the Midwest. In 2014, he was elected to the SEMA Hall of Fame for his continuous training and hard work. It was 2015 when Nile sold his business and as he says, “moved into give-back mode.”
These two students were selected for this award by the SWCC automotive instructors based on a number of key factors including exceptional attendance, good grades, excellent care of tools, and amazing character with a strong work ethic.
As part of this recognition, the students were awarded with personalized Career Starter Tool Sets, including 41” toolboxes with roller cabinets, stocked with tools and tool company promo items.
Pictured above (L to R): Kole Vogel, automotive repair technology instructor; Wyatt Vasey, SWCC 2023 Tech Achiever award recipient; Nile Cornelison, SWCC Education Foundation donor; Ethan Mitchell, SWCC 2023 Tech Achiever award recipient; and Jeff Magneson, SWCC auto collision repair/refinish instructor.