Autry Student Wins Breaking Traditions Award
Autry student being honored by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Posted March 9, 2015
Sky Owens, an automotive technology student at Autry Technology Center, won this year’s Breaking Traditions Award. She is pursuing career path that fits her skills and interests, not because it is what was expected from her.
Each year the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education recognizes students and staff members for choosing fields of study that defy traditional gender roles through the Breaking Traditions Awards.
She will be receiving her award Monday April 20, 2015 at the Tulsa Convention Center Arena at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference.
“She is a great all-around student and shows a real talent in the automotive field,” James Chastain, Autry automotive technology instructor said. “When the guys have problems, they go to her for help.”
Chastain recounts a number of times the male students in his class were struggling with a task that Owens quickly completed when asked for help, such as breaking a bolt loose and removing a tire. She’s also managed to maintain 100 percent attendance, which is no small feat, Chastain says.
Owens credits her mother for her tradition-breaking talents. Her mother is a parts specialist at O’Reilly’s in Enid, so Owens grew up around cars, mechanics and a strong female role model.
“If someone were to tell me I shouldn’t be in this field because I am a girl, I would just work hard to prove them wrong,” Owens said. “This is not just a male field. Females can do it too, sometimes better.”
She is truly passionate about automotive technology. When not at school or working, Owens chooses to spend her free time working on cars at home.
“I don’t let the stereotypes attached to this field get to me at all,” Owens said. “Not even just career-wise. I love to fish, ride dirt bikes and skateboard. I’m not afraid of getting dirty.”
After graduating from the automotive technology program at Autry, Owens plans on having a lifelong career in the automotive field, starting at a car dealership and working up to owning her own shop.
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 13,000 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.
I live in California I used to live in Enid and Waukomis so it’s nice to see you on Facebook.
Welcome Diane. We are always thrilled when we have former Enid residents drop by and add comments when you want. Just jump in.
Have a great day, we are, two days in a row with 70 degree weather and NO WIND…..