Next Step Scholarship ‘Pays’ Way for Student Success 

Anthany Mainka sands a car door that has been repaired with an automotive body filler in the Auto Collision shop at CV Tech's Chickasha Campus. He is one of dozens of students district-wide who are taking advantage of the school's Next Step Scholarship.

October 10, 2018 - CV Tech Admin

CHICKASHA – As a child, Anthany Mainka tinkered often in the garage with his grandfather. They fixed cars and lawnmowers together.

“He was so patient with me, even when I messed something up,” Mainka said.

He recognizes his grandfather had the right mix of diligence, restraint and time that made for an ideal learning environment. Several of Mainka’s relatives are mechanics, including his father.

Mainka, 22, of Alex, enrolled in an auto mechanics course as a high school student at Canadian Valley Technology Center. Despite a love for cars, it did not rev his engine.

After high school, he planned to go to college, but health issues forced a change of plans. It was an uncle who suggested he consider auto body work.

Mainka enrolled late last year in CV Tech’s Auto Collision Technology program at the Chickasha Campus. As an adult, he chose the option of attending all day in order to finish within a year.

The school’s Next Step Scholarship provides free tuition to all students under age 24 who also live inside district boundaries. Recipients also must have a diploma or graduate equivalent.

Mainka said he is on the right track in the auto body industry.

“I have not decided yet what I like most,” he said. “Our class just took a field trip to a body shop. The manager said students can go right to work and be a body man, a prepper, a painter or a welder. I like it all.”

Source: CV Tech