Valencia College Stories

Joshua Hendricks describes himself as a machines guy, so he’s always had an idea of the direction he’d like his life to go. The Industrial Automation Technician – Mechatronics program brought that reality to life.

Jumping from job to job as he searched for a career wasn’t easy for Michael Alvarez. Then the global pandemic hit, and he turned a time of worldwide chaos into empowerment for him as he discovered truck driving and turned to Valencia’s CDL-A to better his future.

Robert Blackowski enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a machinist mate when COVID 19 hit. Once he transitioned back to civilian life, he needed direction. He found Valencia’s Industrial Automation Technician – Mechatronics program to be the perfect fit for him and rode his training to the workforce.

Jason Becker first learned to weld in high school. He was just 15 when he struck his first arc and was hooked. 

Brother and sister Joshua and Jessica Sylvester were working in Amazon warehouse jobs when they decided that they wanted jobs that were more satisfying — and more secure.

Behind the Bay: Metallica Scholar finds empowerment through welding.