Women in industrial shop programs are not an unusual site at TSJC
Valley Campus
Tanya Olivas with fellow classmates working on a small engine project
Tonya Olivas has been working on vehicles since she was seven years old. After she completed the Auto program located at Ortega Middle School with Tanner Kingery, she wanted to give bigger engines a try. She registered for Heavy Diesel Mechanics taught by instructor Eric O’Brien and is completing that training now. She is looking forward to finding a good mechanic’s job to support herself and her daughter, Serenity. Olivas is OSHA certified and has earned certificates in both diesel and auto mechanics. She thinks it’s more fun to work on the bigger engines.
Sue Patterson holding her metal sculpted fish
Sue Patterson retired after teaching art for 25 years. For a long time she has wanted to learn welding and use it for sculptural purposes. She registered this spring semester and studied with Welding instructor, Norm Williams. She scavenges salvage yards with the intent of “repurposing junk!” This semester she created a bird bath complete with a bird and a nest as well as an intriguing fish. “When we were younger, women weren’t allowed to take shop classes and guys couldn’t take home economics,” Patterson said. She was inspired by the monumental welded sculptures created by artist Louise Medelson, who, in fact, was primarily a painter. Patterson is excited about creating more artistic metal sculptures using her newly acquired welding skills.
Michelle Sandoval has been interested in mechanics for many years. She completed Heavy Diesel Mechanics and is now studying Machining. She is in the Manufacturing Technology Program at TSJC. Sandoval has always liked working with her hands.
