ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 1, 1996 TAG: 9612030006
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: TOM ANGLEBERGER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
When Gail White and Tracey Gann graduate from New River Community College this spring, they will be the first women in recent memory to graduate from the school's automotive technology program.
The two believe they can make it in one of the few careers still considered "a man's job" - and so do their professors.
"There [is] no reason why women can't do this," said Chris Van Stavoren, one of the professors. Because of changes in automotive technology, a good mechanic needs brain power not muscle power, he said.
"They both have great futures ahead of them," said Van Stavoren. "They're both doing exceptionally well."
The two seem to enjoy the challenge.
"If men can go into nursing ... why can't women dab on over into mechanics?" asked Gann. "I like a challenge and I guess working on cars was a challenge. ..."
Gann said she knows she may face some resistance on the job because she is a woman, but is confident that she can overcome it. "I'm sure there's always going to be skeptical men," she says. "Some of the guys in [my class] were not expecting a woman to be in the classroom."
What the men found out is that Gann knows what she is doing under the hood.
"I've been messing around with cars for a long time," said the 32-year-old Gann who grew up in Louisville, Ky.
Her fascination with cars started in her early 20s when she was charged $100 for fixing what she considered a fairly simple automotive problem. She remembers thinking, "I could do that." And she started fixing her car herself.
When she became restless at her job, she decided to enroll in the program. Now she looks forward to being able to find a good job anywhere in the country.
White, 31, also was looking for a change from an unfulfilling job. When she enrolled in the class she had never done more than perform routine maintenance on her car.
Although she is a working single-mother, she decided to continue her education even though it meant she had to somehow find time for work, school and her son. "When he's asleep, that's when I study," she said.
For White, the community college program was a chance to learn a marketable skill in a short time. It appears to have worked - she has already had a job offer from a dealership where she had an internship last summer.
"We pretty much have a 100 percent placement rate," says Van Stavoren. "There is a huge need for automotive technicians, and it's not just in this area - it's nationwide."
The program's graduates start at salaries between $17,000 and $20,000 working at local auto repair shops, a dealership or parts supply stores, according to the community college. Some choose to go on for a four-year degree and look for a job with a manufacturer.
Because of the opportunities ahead of them, both White and Gunn think automotive technology is a good career choice. And they think other women should not overlook it.
"I've got a darn good chance of having a job," said White. "This is a career that ... more women might want to think about. I'd like to be seen as an example of something that can be done."
White was the first female mechanic to work at the dealership. She saw some shocked expressions, but faced no strong opposition.
"It's a subject that a man or a woman can do equally well in," she said. In fact, she thinks being a female may even be a plus because women go by the book and don't skip over details.
Ralph Papsidero, another of the automotive professors, said the two women are detail-oriented, which is very important because of the complexity of today's technical manuals.
Van Stavoren said the emphasis now and in the future will be on a mechanic's diagnostic abilities and familiarity with the latest automotive technology.
"You have to stay up to date with it. It's not an easy field to excel in," he said.
About 50 percent of class time is actually spent working on vehicles donated by manufacturers, which allows students access to late-model vehicles. The professors then create problems in the cars and teach the students how to fix them.
The community college also has a special program sponsored by Toyota. Currently White is the only student in this specialized study course. "It's difficult to get into the program, but Gail managed to do it," said Van Stavoren.
Students who are successful in the program have a good chance of finding jobs as auto technicians, the professors say. White and Gann intend to be among those working a wrench for a good salary when they have their diplomas in hand.
New River Community College offers several one- and two-semester automotive technology classes, including engines, power trains and chassis mechanics. The college also offers a two-year diploma in auto analysis and repair. Anyone interested in continuing his or her education in the automotive technology or other courses can call an academic counselor at New River Community College at 540-674-3609.
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON\Staff. Tracey Gann (left) and Gail Whiteby CNBstudy auto mechanics at New River Comminity College. color.