Burdick Job Corps students, Garrett Kamlitz, from Jamestown, ND, came to Quentin N. Burdick Job Corps to receive training in the Automotive Industry.  He came to Burdick Job Corps in August of 2009. He obtained his GED on November of 2009 and recently completed his Automotive shop/classroom training. Garrett is the first student at Burdick Job Crops to have ever completed all Advanced Automotive levels offered.  The levels included; Electrical/Electronics, Brakes, Engine Performance, Suspension and Steering, Automatic Transition and Transaxle, Engine Repair, Heating and Air Conditioning, and Manual Drive Train and Axles. He also has achieved Tire Industry Certification (TIA), ASE Breaks Certification, ASE Electrical/Electronic Systems Certifications, and Mobile Air Conditioning Society Certification (MACS). After completing all that is listed above, Garret did his internship at Westlies Truck Center in Minot. After FOUR weeks of internship, he was hired on as a full-time employee.

His Advanced Automotive instructor, LeRoy Burckhard, said Garrett achieved all that he did because of his determination to learn. Garrett didn’t waster any time and utilized every resource and curriculum material available, said Burckhard. Burckhard also commented that Garrett assisted him and other students during his training which also contributed to training.

Garrett says he came to Burdick Job Corps because he had nowhere else to go and it was his last resort to stay out of trouble. Along with learning a trade skill, Garrett says he also learned leadership skills from being a shop foreman and a suite leader.  He also says he had the best instructor (Burckhard) he has ever had, because of his automotive knowledge, he knew what he was teaching and taught me the proper way to do things. He says his instructor (Burckhard) did a great job preparing me for employment from safety to the curriculum. Garrett says Burdick Job Corps is a worthwhile place to get your training and a great place to be.  He also says the Job Corps program helps many young people.

Garrett had to leave his employment during the Minot Flood, but shortly after, made his way back to Minot to get back to work at Westlies and is staying with a friend. Tim Bater, Service Manager at Westlie Truck Center, says “What a Success Story”.  He says we will continue to take Garrett to the next level of his career. Garret will exit the Burdick Job Corps program in the next couple of weeks. Garrett’s plans are to stay in Minot and continue his employment with Westlies Truck Center.