A Career He Loves in a Place He Loves More
posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in
Alumni Profiles
Izaak Miller came to Hawkeye Community College because of its reputation. As senior at Waverly-Shell Rock High School, Miller worked part-time at Deike Implement Co. alongside several Hawkeye alumni. They knew Miller was interested in working with diesel engines and they knew Hawkeye had a high-quality program.
“I’m a diesel junkie – I enjoy working on engines,” Miller said. “They said Hawkeye has always been a high-quality program to train technicians. That was a big draw to me.”
Everything seemed to click for Miller once he was on campus. The classes were small, which led to great interactions with his instructors. They brought real-world knowledge from the industry, and could help connect students with resources and employers.
“It was really nice for me,” he said. “It’s less stressful because you don’t have a hundred guys in a class all trying to do the same stuff. You get more one-on-one and a lot more hands-on work.”
When a mechanic position opened at Miller’s old high school, his instructors encouraged him to pursue it. Though his program had focused on agricultural technology, his training had prepared him to work on all types of equipment.
“They taught me really well,” Miller said. “It was an easy transition for me.”
Now, many of the teachers and staff who once saw him as a student see Miller as a colleague, and he’s found his passion.
“I get to do the work I love, and I’m also giving back to the community that I was part of as a kid,” Miller said. “I’m loving it.”
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- Ag Power Technology
- Alumni Profile