KAYSVILLE—Amelia Lopez hasn’t let anything stop her from accomplishing her goals. Not her age or working in a predominantly male field. Lopez completed the Heavy/Duty Diesel Technology program through Davis Technical College (Davis Tech) before she graduated from Northridge High School and now she’s half way through the welding program on the Davis Tech campus and currently works at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB). Lopez was named Davis Tech Student of the Year last week at a luncheon held on campus.

Lopez was one of six finalists selected earlier in the fall from the six schools at Davis Tech. Each student represented their program or school. Dominick Amarel was named runner up.

Amarel finished the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program and will begin the Firefighter program in January.

“After I finish welding I plan to go to Weber State and get a BA in automotive technology,” said Lopez. “My goal is to own my own diesel and fabrication shop. Welding pairs well with diesel and I know they love that in the industry. That’s why I decided to do both.”

Lopez said her mom was an airplane mechanic. “She showed me that women have a place in the mechanics field.”

“Amelia is one of the hardest working young students to have come through the Diesel Technology program in a long time,” Heavy/Duty Diesel Technology instructor Scott King said. “She is always helping other students when she sees them struggling and never lets working in a male-dominated field slow her down.”

Lopez placed second at SkillsUSA. “It’s a competition for all of the colleges,” she said. “I competed in Diesel Technology. It was full of guys. I was the only girl. Getting second gave me the confidence that I do belong here.”

That competition was the key fact on how I got on at HAFB, said Lopez. “I do heavy duty vehicle maintenance and fabrication. Everyone is older than me, they’re 35 plus. I’m the youngest one. But because of my education here I’ve gotten some of the smarts they’ve gotten over years in the industry.”

Amarel graduated from the EMT program three weeks ago. “I’m going to the Fire academy,” he said. “I’ve done both courses on scholarship. I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been an addict for just less than half of my life. I’m 32. I’ve been clean for five years. I’ve become a supervisor and residential lead where I work at Odyssey House. I want to teach them and bring them up with me.”

Amarel said he knew he needed help to overcome his addiction. “I was at my lowest low. I was considering suicide. I prayed about it and I saw a flier from the Red Barn (Academy). I was accepted into the program and I was there for three years and eight months. It was the hardest thing I’ve done but when I finished I have never taken my foot off the gas. I’m so grateful to be clean and sober.”

Now he wants to help others find their way. “I want to be of service to others,” said Amarel. “Those who are new to recovery, I know all of the struggles involved. I want them to have what I have.”

Other 2024 Students of the Year for each school are:

School of Business and Information Technology

James Jordan, Web and Graphic Design program

School of Construction

Morgan Messersmith, Construction Technology program  

School of Service Professions

Dianna Ramirez, Cosmetology program  

School of Transportation
Justin Reynolds, Automotive Technology program