With a lifelong fascination for cars, Cuyahoga Heights High School junior Nathan Mandich always knew he wanted to work on them. Enrolling in the Auto Service Technology Program at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC) was a natural fit. His enthusiasm for the program led to his being featured in the CVCC's Student Connection for April.
Mandich is especially appreciative of instructor Jamie Yax’s, supportive, hands-on teaching style. One of his favorite class experiences has been working on a small Chevrolet. “I learned how to rebuild the motor, and it was really cool – it wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be,” said Mandich.
His hard work recently paid off in a big way. Nathan placed 5th in the Auto Maintenance & Light Repair competition at the SkillsUSA State Conference in Columbus. SkillsUSA is a national organization that prepares middle, high, and college-level students for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. “Mr. Yax encouraged me to compete, and I’m really glad I did,” Mandich exclaimed. The competition included a class pretest in which he did really well.
Though Mancidh hasn’t finalized his plans after graduation in 2026, he dreams of building race engines for NASCAR. Outside of class, he works at Taco Bell and spends his free time bowling, golfing, and working on cars. He has also begun the groundwork to start his own business by working on vehicles for family and friends.
His advice for future students? “Give CVCC a shot. When I had the opportunity to go, I thought – why wouldn’t I want to spend half the school day doing something I enjoy? Just make sure you choose a program you’re passionate about.”