How one class propelled two talented alums to success
Access to career training and dedicated teachers made all the difference
When acing math tests, memorizing facts, or finishing assigned reading material feels like a serious slog, having one class that you look forward to can be transformational. That certainly was the case for Bill Uttich, a Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) alum who found himself in an automotive collision repair course at Apex (formerly Boulder TEC).
That one class launched his career, gave him a new sense of accomplishment, and brought him back to the exact same place it all started: an auto shop classroom at Apex.
Surrounded by the hiss of welding torches and the smell of metal, Bill has been working for almost three decades on the Apex campus, teaching the same class that inspired him. For a self-described “average” student who generally felt bored by school, automotive collision repair tapped into a creative side that was calling him.
Left: Bill smiling on a snowy day; Right: Bill teaching a group of students
Bill hasn’t looked back since, saying, “It changed my life, completely.”
The subject matter interested him, but what really made all the difference was an incredible teacher who saw something special in him. Now, he’s paying it forward as an award-winning educator. Bill, a 2022 Impact on Education Impact Award winner, uses the same kind of mentorship skills he benefited from with his own students, like recent alum Peter Martinez.
The ripple effect of inspiration
When Peter, a Monarch High alum, transferred into Bill’s automotive collision repair class, he wasn’t happy with his high school experience. And it was hard to envision his future. Even graduating on time didn’t feel like a guarantee.
“I really didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I didn’t want to go into college debt,” said Peter.
Moving from South Africa a year before high school, adjusting to a new curriculum in the U.S., making new friends, and even just feeling like Monarch High was the right fit for him was a struggle. That’s why he applied to join Apex: it was a chance to try something new. When he found automotive collision repair, things started to shift.
“I had no clue what I really wanted to do until I met Bill. And then Bill easily put me on the track that I’ll be happy to be [on] for the rest of my life,” said Peter.
Uninterested in most of his other classes, collision repair was different. He looked forward to it, showing up on time and sometimes even early. His confidence quickly grew as he realized — this was something he was really good at.
“I had no clue what I really wanted to do until I met Bill. And then Bill easily put me on the track that I’ll be happy to be [on] for the rest of my life,” said Peter.
Peter (on the right) and his classmate (on the left) with their I-CAR certifications
Today, Peter is a paintless dent repair technician at an auto repair shop in Boulder, a job he started as an intern during his senior year of high school, work he says he looks forward to.
One of his favorite aspects about the job is being able to make someone’s day with his unique skillset.
“It’s like a big ol’ nasty scratch that they thought they’d never be able to get out. But you make it completely gone. And then the look on their faces; they’re so happy. And that makes you feel good.”
Success stories like Peter’s and Bill’s prove that career training programs change students’ lives. But for too many talented teens in BVSD, financial circumstances stand between them and these important opportunities. That is why Impact on Education, the foundation for Boulder Valley schools, partners with BVSD to remove financial barriers and ensure every student who wants a technical education gets the chance to experience it.
Access to professional training for every student
For some students, a life-changing class like automotive collision repair might be out of reach without support from community partners. Impact on Education covers course fees for students enrolling in Apex who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.
“With [Impact on Education] and my department trying to help some of these kids… I think it just allows them to feel a little bit more connected to the class, to feel a little bit more welcome,” said Bill.
Last year, Impact on Education awarded 1,055 high school students with fee waivers for college and career opportunities. That included 119 students at Apex. For a class like automotive collision repair, the waiver covered supplies like personal protective gear, a shop shirt, I-CAR registration, and consumable goods.
“With [Impact on Education] and my department trying to help some of these kids, either financially or, even sometimes clothing or things like that, I think it just allows them to feel a little bit more connected to the class, to feel a little bit more welcome,” said Bill.
Like school districts across Colorado, BVSD faces funding shortfalls after more than a decade of chronic underfunding. Partnering with Impact on Education to help fill in funding gaps allows the district to continue offering opportunities that help every student grow — so that financial challenges don’t get in the way of student opportunity or their sense of belonging.
A path to graduation and a meaningful career
Left: Peter and Bill with a class of students in the shop; Right: Peter welding
Career training in high school encourages teens to uncover hidden talents, gain new skills, and envision new possibilities for themselves after graduation. There are short-term benefits too: academic growth.
“Over the years, I’ve had a lot of [students] say that if it wasn’t for this class, I probably wouldn’t have made it through my academics,” said Bill. “I said, I can really relate because I was the same way.”
Access to technical education in high school helped Peter and Bill achieve both academic and career milestones. They learned how to operate as professionals and the fundamentals of what it takes to make it in their industry, with skills ranging from welding to dent repair to buffing and polishing.
“Over the years, I’ve had a lot of [students] say that if it wasn’t for this class, I probably wouldn’t have made it through my academics,” said Bill. “I said, I can really relate because I was the same way.”
Practicing their skills in a lower-stakes professional environment prepared them for success.
“I tell [my students], I’m your teacher, but I’m also your boss, because we do customer work in here,” said Bill.
There are other students as talented and hardworking as Bill and Peter who are eager to discover their passion. They just haven’t had the right opportunity, yet.
