Nick Ortiz, a Senior in the Automotive Technology program at Windham Tech, leaves his shop class at approximately 10:15 every morning and heads to the University of Connecticut (UCONN) campus located in Storrs, Connecticut. At UCONN, Nick works at the University's garage better known as the "Motor Pool".

Here, Nick works on a large variety of vehicles including cars, trucks, buses, pay loaders, tractors, street sweepers and emergency vehicles. When asked about the variety of work that comes into the shop, Nick replies, "I love it! I'm always working on something different. I never know what I'm going to work on. We service over 600 University owned vehicles which makes every day a different experience."

Nick's boss, Gerald Bailey, says, "Nick's a great kid. He's really working out well here. I wish I could keep him here even after he graduates."

Working approximately 4.5 hours a day, Nick has the opportunity to learn many skills needed to succeed in the automotive field. He works alongside experienced mechanics and absorbs everything they have to say like a sponge. "All of the people I work with are highly skilled and most have been in the automotive field longer than I have been alive. I believe by learning things from each of them, I can one day be a superior mechanic just like them. I can't thank them enough for all they are teaching me. I feel that by working at the motor pool through the WBL program, I have been given a unique learning opportunity."