Trevor Hertzog, a student in BCTC’s Welding program and senior at Wilson High School, knew he wanted to pursue a career in the trades. With a family background in the trades and some experience welding around the house, Trevor decided BCTC was the perfect place to take his skills to the next level. “I thought welding was pretty cool, but I wanted to learn a little bit more about it,” Trevor said. 

That interest quickly turned into a real-world experience through his co-op at Mike Grim’s Truck Wreck Specialist. Trevor started working there about two weeks before the end of the school year after completing most of his BCTC coursework. 

At Grimm’s, no two days are alike. Trevor works on tractors, trailers and heavy-duty trucks, helping take damaged vehicles apart, fabricate replacement parts, weld components, paint, and eventually put everything back together. “Fabricating is a big part, but it’s not just that,” Trevor explained. “I get to do everything that involves tractors and trailers—taking them apart, welding and fabricating new parts.” Some projects can be particularly challenging when a vehicle is older, and replacement parts are no longer available. In those cases, Trevor and the team must create the parts themselves. “That’s pretty cool,” Trevor said. “It gets pretty intense.” 

The size of the shop was an adjustment, too. Trevor admitted that the sheer scale of the operation was intimidating at first, but the hands-on experience has given him an opportunity to build confidence and develop valuable skills. 

BCTC’s Welding program has helped prepare him for the variety he encounters on the job. At BCTC, Trevor has been exposed to different types of welding and projects, giving him the flexibility to approach new challenges at his co-op. “It’s different every day,” he said. 

Trevor plans to continue his co-op experience three to four days a week and is considering continuing in the field after graduation. While he may eventually explore opportunities out West, for now, he is happy where he is. “I like where I’m at, and I like the people that I’m with,” he said. 

For students considering BCTC, Trevor’s advice is simple: give it a try. “Just try it. You’re going to have fun either way,” he said. “It’s something different that no one else gets to do when you’re at your home school, so it’s pretty cool just to be around everybody.” 

And the skills students gain at BCTC can last a lifetime—even if they ultimately choose a different career path. “Even if you don’t go out into a job doing it, you’re going to have that skill for the rest of your life.”