HTC Alumni Success Story
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Trading Places: From Graduate To Instructor
When you talk to Duane Rasmussen, you hear about HTC from both sides of the desk: He is a graduate who went on to become an instructor.
It all started back in the 1970s. After graduating from high school in Monticello, Minnesota, Rasmussen served three years in the U.S. Army. When he left the service, he decided on a career in ground transportation. “I thought it would be a solid career, something that would always be there,” recalls Rasmussen. “With basic knowledge and training, you can apply those skills anywhere in the world because everyplace needs people who can work on trucks.” He chose HTC because it was close to home and offered what was then called the Diesel/Truck program. Today it’s the Medium/Heavy Truck Technology program.
He was right about choosing a solid career. In 1998, after spending nearly two decades in the industry working at several truck dealerships, Rasmussen joined HTC, actually taking over from one of his former instructors. Rasmussen admired the successful Ford ASSET program formula, which offers a mix of classroom and internship training time. Adopting the same structure, the current Medium/Heavy Truck Technology program started to take shape.
“It’s a unique program, not traditional, because half of the learning takes place during paid internships in the trucking industry,” said Rasmussen. “At the end of two years, students don’t just have two years of education -- they have two years of work experience.” The program is a partner with the Minnesota Trucking Association and maintains strong relationships with industry, working with about 100 trucking companies, dealerships and independent shops. The program boasts 100 percent placement of students.
A believer in lifelong learning, Rasmussen recently completed his B.S. in Career and Technical Education from Bemidji State University. Besides juggling a busy schedule at HTC, Rasmussen has five children, including a set of triplets who are now 13 years old. “They do well in school, but they didn’t get that from me,” Rasmussen says with a chuckle. “I did well in shop class but not traditional classes.”
After nearly a decade as an instructor, Rasmussen says that the biggest changes he has seen have been in sophisticated truck electronic systems and the biggest challenge is keeping up with this new technology. He credits industry support with keeping the program strong, noting that industry donates engines and other components to keep HTC’s training on the cutting edge. In the future, Rasmussen and fellow instructor Dale Boyenga hope to add courses to the program that include more advanced training. Both instructors are ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified and the program is certified by NATEF (National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation).
“We start on day one, when most of the students have never even stood by a truck,” said Rasmussen. “We teach our students how to learn.” For Duane Rasmussen, it’s an HTC tradition he’s proud to continue.
Contact HTC at 952-995-1300 or info@hennepintech.edu
Copyright © 2009 by Hennepin Technical College