Unlike many labs in Del Mar College, the automotive lab is a large open bay. It is loud, drafty and well-lit with shop lights and sunlight.

In this bay,18-year-old Alicia Gutierrez stands out in what is mainly a male-dominated field. She started the semester with two other female students and is the last woman standing in a class full of males.

A fear of being over-charged and taken advantage of has led her on the automotive journey.

“I’m always going to have a vehicle, and I never want to get used because I’m a woman and I don’t want them to add more charges,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez would rather get her hands dirty than be in a classroom. She wants to inspire other people to join and step outside of their comfort zone.

“Nobody’s stopping you but yourself,” said Gutierrez. 

The automotive program is two-fold, one to help students who need their car fixed and another for the students looking to get their hands dirty. This program is learning with benefits.

Students join the automotive program for a variety of reasons such as wanting to establish a career in a high-paying industry, not wanting to be scammed by shops, to save money on their personal vehicles, and to make their dreams become a reality.

And what has been traditionally a male-dominated industry has now opened to everyone.

The automotive program offers an associate degree in Automotive Applied Technology, as well as two certificate programs. Level 1 certification includes Suspension, Driveline, Brake Specialist Automotive Applied Technology. Level 2 certification is Automotive Applied Technology.

“This program is designed as a do-it-yourself type of course, if you work in the industry, you will be able to make money, while saving money through the program,” Automotive instructor Duane Beadle said.

Another advantage beyond learning to fix an automobile is students can earn Dual Credit. The classes are available at Coastal Bend high schools including Aransas Pass, Banquete, London, and Flour Bluff high schools, along with high schools in CCISD.

The automotive program provides plenty of hands-on training during their six-hour labs.

“The program has been designed to adapt to the changes with the newer vehicles technology, so that students are able to learn entry-level skills based on what the current technology is,” Beadle said. 

This program is designed for students to be able to enter the workforce with the required knowledge.

Once enrolled in the automotive program, students will gain hands-on experience by being able to work on vehicles from the programs on fleet of vehicles along with the vehicles of Del Mar students and staff. There is no cost for diagnosing a vehicle, but customers are responsible for covering the costs of the replacement parts. Labor costs for repairs are free.

If a student’s vehicle needs work, email Duane Beadle with detailed information including the vehicle’s make, model, year, and the issue occurring. The automotive department may also send out DMCAlerts if they need vehicles for students to work on. This does not guarantee the student’s vehicle will be selected to be serviced, as services are very limited and dependent on what is being taught during the current semester. All repairs are certified by the instructor.