Two Cleburne High School diesel technician students have signed on the dotted line as new interns with Holt Caterpillar.

            Through a partnership with Holt Cat, paid internships for advanced students in the Career and Technical Education heavy engine/diesel technician program are made available. During ceremonies held December 13, juniors Jace Hanaway and Skyler Ballew signed training plans which will have them reporting to Holt Caterpillar’s Cleburne facility in January. They will join four seniors who are coming up on their one-year anniversary in the internship program.

            “They will continue to learn in our diesel tech program while using and building on those skills as interns at Holt Caterpillar,” CTE Director Mark McClure said. “They will be working for the next year and a half, including the summer, and hopefully will be employed by Holt Cat when they graduate.”

            The ceremony included the presentation of a combined $20,000 award from Holt Caterpillar and the Caterpillar Dealer Excellence Fund for Cleburne’s diesel technician program. The funding will add a vapor blaster to Cleburne’s program inventory, giving students hands-on skills and experience with the same equipment used in the industry.   

            The heavy engine/diesel technician program has grown to 160 participants since its implementation at CHS in the 2020-2021 school year.

            “I’ve loved working on cars since I was little,” Hanaway said. “This will let me explore things I’ve never tried, including working with big equipment in an industry setting. The interns that are there now say it’s lots of fun, and there’s lots of things to work on. I want to do that.”

            Ballew, who has also grown up with a curiosity as to “how things work” feels prepared for this next step.

            “I feel I know my stuff,” he said. “I’m excited about this opportunity and the connections I hope to make. I want to be a diesel technician.”

            Cleburne HS diesel tech Instructor Daq Querry believes, as interns, both students will exhibit the same desire to learn they have shown in the classroom. Querry knows what it will take as their teacher, and from his experience as a member of the Holt Caterpillar team.

            “Skyler has worked hard from day one,” Querry said. “He has taken care of business and gets the job done. Jace has a passion for motors. He has quickly progressed since he began learning about heavy equipment. He’s really impressed me.”

            “We are so excited to bring these two interns on board as part of our team,” said Rick Elmore, Holt Caterpillar workforce development liaison. “We are very proud to provide this opportunity as one of several ways to support our school systems and CTE. Holt Caterpillar is a multi-billion-dollar industry doing remarkable things.”