At Trinity, the Power MotorSports Program, PMS, is a three year pathway for students interested in all things mechanics. From learning how to work on full-sized vehicles to making a career out of these skills, the options are endless. PMS is a hands-on pathway that prepares students to be successful in their future after high school.
Senior John Redd has been in the program for four years and has learned valuable lessons in the program.
He shared this advice, stating, “If you like to work with mechanics and understand how everything works, then this is the perfect class for you. Even if you don’t really wanna go into a career with these skills, you can at least learn the basics of how to work on your own things.”
“Mr. Coyle, our PMS teacher, makes our class into not only lessons about mechanics but also about life. We get a lot of takeaways everyday and learn wise advice on more than what the class seems to offer,” said Junior James Eakin, who has been strongly influenced by this program.
Mr. Coyle is the Power Motorsports Program Facilitator and Instructor. He has taught at Trinity Area School District for about 13 years. Along with this, he’s had 20 years of experience in the marine and recreational service industry. With his extensive background, he’s gained widespread knowledge about mechanical and entrepreneurial skills relevant to the program.
In this career pathway, students can expect to get a little messy while learning first-hand about the mechanics of different vehicles, but also to learn valuable skills that can help them in their careers or in their everyday lives.
Eakin stated, “On a day-to-day basis, on the 3rd level, we primarily work on larger projects such as boats and road vehicles, and get real mechanics experience. The students will rotate day to day being technicians, service writers and parts researchers. Occasionally, we will have a lecture about the components and how to do the mechanics.”
Every year, students can move up in the program, and the more years they participate, the more experience and credentials they gain. From starting with the Intro to Engine Mechanics class, all the way up to getting Supervised Mechanical Experience, students tackle small engines along with bigger projects that require more knowledge.
Students in this program take on a variety of challenges, such as working on small motors to larger, more complex projects.
One example of a bigger project students have worked on is Adam Watson’s boat, a 17 ft. long 1969 Larson, which had two engines, and many hours of work, put into it.
To get all of these projects done, students in the program spend at least two class periods in the workshop, if not more. To succeed, they stay dedicated to their work and what they’re learning.
Other than simply learning how to work the mechanics, this program helps students to get well-prepared for their careers after high school.
Senior Jerrod Catlin has been in the program for three years, and he is very grateful for what he’s gotten out of it.
“I feel like this is preparing me for graduation very well. It’s teaching me things that could help out in the real world like how to replace brakes, spark plugs and how to get a profit out of it,” said Catlin.
Eakin feels the same way, stating, “My favorite part of the program is the certifications we will receive in the time
we are in the program. These certifications will improve my chances of employment and allow me to be more
productive in the workforce.”
The value of the hours spent in the workshop are immeasurable. Students who take part in this program get a strong foundation for what they want to focus on as they get older and learn worthwhile lessons, whether they choose to go into a related career or not.
