For Wilson High School senior Jace Kaucher, his years in BCTC’s Auto Collision program have been about learning more than how to repair vehicles—they’ve been about building the confidence and skills to succeed in the industry. 

That preparation became especially valuable during Jace’s summer co-op experience at Mike Grim’s Truck Wreck Specialist, where he had the opportunity to put his BCTC training to work in a professional collision shop. “The nice part was a lot of things that they do there, or how they just run things, was very similar to the way that my instructor teaches us,” Jace explained. “It was just kind of like an easier transition.” 

His employers took the time to teach him the shop’s processes while helping him steadily increase his speed and efficiency. The results were impressive. “Since I’ve started there, my skills have gone way better and way quicker,” Jace said. “A lot of things that used to take me two hours to get done here, I can now get done in 15 minutes.” 

Jace’s progress is especially remarkable when he compares it to his first year at BCTC. It once took him nearly an entire year to sand, repair dents, and paint a single fender. Near the end of his co-op, he was completing three larger panels in a single day—finished and ready to move on to the next step. The co-op experience also gave Jace a first-hand understanding of what it takes to work as part of a professional team. 

“BCTC gave me a very good footing to be able to get into that industry,” he said. “If I just went straight into it with just no expectations, it would have been a lot harder.” Rather than simply learning technical skills, Jace said BCTC helped him understand how a shop operates and how technicians work together. That foundation made it easier for him to transition into the workplace and become a productive member of the team. 

Jace plans to continue his co-op experience throughout his senior year, potentially working four days a week. After graduation, he is considering additional technical education to broaden his skills beyond traditional auto collision work. 

His long-term goal is to become a well-rounded technician capable of tackling a wide variety of projects. At Mike Grim’s Truck Wreck Specialist, the work extends beyond traditional collision repair to include custom jobs, specialty paint work, suspension and framework, welding, and fabrication. “I want to open up my fields to tech and customs so that I can really kind of get anything done,” Jace said. 

For Jace, pursuing career and technical education early has already made a major difference. His advice to younger students considering BCTC is simple: give it a try. “The number one mistake that I, myself, almost had was fearing going for a career path or trying something, even if it’s an interest or a hobby,” he said. 

Jace discovered his interest in cars at a young age and took advantage of an early admissions opportunity to explore that passion at BCTC. Three years later, he is heading into his senior year with valuable industry experience, rapidly developing skills, and a clear vision for his future. 

“I would say try, even if it’s just a small interest,” Jace encouraged middle school and ninth-grade students. “I would go for it because you might end up loving it and making a good amount of money doing it.”