ENID, OK - Autry Tech has become a family tradition in Jessamyn Eadens’ household. Both her mother and grandmother attended Autry Tech and encouraged Eadens to take advantage of the same opportunities.
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Eadens started in the Robotics & Electronic Automation program as a high school junior at Enid High School and enrolled in Welding Technology as a senior. Even in the welding program, she had her eye on cars!
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“I only really enjoyed welding because of the fabrication that had to do with cars,” said Eadens. “At semester, I decided to choose the car and transfer to the Automotive Technology program.”
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She is entering her second year in the program as an adult student, with plans to complete it in December 2020. Eadens is not shy about being one of few females in a program with a typically male-dominated enrollment.
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“I feel empowered!” said Eadens. “On the first day of class, people come in and think it is just going to be a group of guys. When they see that female, they say ‘oh, wow!’ I actually get a lot of respect in this class because I am a female.”
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Eadens’ pursuit of her career growth based on her interests without the influence of gender stereotypes is why she has been nominated for the Breaking Traditions Award. This award is a way for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education to spotlight students and staff who have chosen specific career and technology programs because of their interests and abilities. These individuals have not let their gender influence their decisions to prepare for nontraditional careers.
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Automotive Technology instructor James Chastain praises Haley for embracing her role as a female in the classroom and pursuing her dreams of opening her own machine shop!
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“Jessamyn is the type of student every instructor wants in her class,” said Chastain. “She is focused on her goal of becoming an automotive technician and is willing to go the extra mile to learn the curriculum. The male students in the class respect her for her abilities, look up to her for guidance and seek help when there is a problem that needs solved.”
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Eadens is also active in SkillsUSA. She competed in the prepared speech contest in 2019, placing 1st at district and 6th at state. She also serves as an Autry Professional Representative, representing her program doing tours and recruiting evens for Autry Tech both on and off campus.
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Autry Technology Center has been a part of the Enid community since 1967 and is one of 29 CareerTech schools across Oklahoma. The center has more than 25 career programs and offers a wide variety of evening and weekend short-term courses and certifications for many diverse career fields. Autry serves nearly 16,000 individuals each year, including many area employees who receive training through the Business and Industry Services Department that works with over 500 local businesses each year.
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Autry Tech Student Finds New Path in Family Tradition
