Meet a Rising Technician: Elizabeth Kevelin

Elizabeth Kevelin's path to automotive technology didn't follow a traditional route, but her determination to build a new future shows that it's never too late to pursue your passion. This Ventura College student balances full-time work at a Toyota dealership with her studies, proving that hands-on experience and classroom learning create the strongest foundation for success.

Motor Age is partnering with TechForce Foundation to share profiles and perspectives of student automotive technicians. These students were asked about their experience working while in school.

Elizabeth's journey into the automotive industry began with a life transition. After her divorce, she committed to returning to school to secure a better income and build independence - not just for herself, but to care for her aging mother and ensure her sons never have to worry about her financial stability.

Today, she's enrolled in Ventura College's Toyota Technician Training Education Program (T-TEN) in Ventura, California, working full-time as an Express Technician at a Toyota dealership through a paid internship. The position does more than help cover rent - it provides invaluable hands-on training that directly supports what she's learning in the classroom. Elizabeth also credits Ventura College’s instructors for playing a critical role in her development. All are ASE-certified professionals with real-world industry experience who actively mentor students and help connect them with internship opportunities across dealerships, independent shops, and other automotive businesses, creating a direct bridge between classroom learning and career pathways.

"Working while going to school gives me real-world experience that you just can't get from textbooks alone," Elizabeth explains. "Every day at the dealership, I'm applying what I learn in class and discovering how systems actually work when you're under the hood." Her passion for automotive extends beyond the classroom and the shop floor. Elizabeth volunteered for three seasons at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where her perspective on the industry expanded significantly. "It was there that my eyes were opened to the various roles women can participate in within motorsports and automotive," she shares. The experience reinforced her belief that she belongs in this field and that the possibilities are limitless.

Elizabeth’s automotive interests reflect a wide range of experiences. Over the years, she has driven everything from a Volkswagen Rabbit to Subarus, while now building her career within the Toyota network. Her dream? “One day I will have a Porsche project car, once I graduate and have my own tools,” she says with determination.

Her long-term vision is ambitious and clear. After completing her Associate's Degree, Elizabeth plans to continue at Ventura College in their Bachelor's of Automotive degree program. "I am aiming for the stars in either motorsports or automotive," she states simply.

The integration of work and education has proven essential to Elizabeth's growth as a technician. The T-TEN program's structure allows her to earn while she learns, gaining professional experience that will serve her throughout her career. The dealership environment exposes her to real customer concerns, diagnostic challenges, and the pace of a working shop - all while building the technical skills that will make her competitive in the job market.

Elizabeth's approach demonstrates what many successful technicians understand: classroom theory and shop floor experience create a powerful combination when pursued simultaneously. Students who work while learning often develop stronger diagnostic thinking, better time management, and deeper appreciation for the craft. Her story represents a growing demographic in the automotive industry - adults returning to education to build new careers, bringing life experience, maturity, and unwavering commitment to their training. Elizabeth's motivation is deeply personal: financial independence, family responsibility, and the pursuit of work she genuinely loves. "I'm passionate about the automotive and motorsports industries and the people working in them - they create incredible opportunities for people like me to build security for our families while doing work we genuinely care about," Elizabeth says.

Elizabeth Kevelin's journey from divorce to determination, combined with her commitment to both her family and the skills she is continuing to build, represents the resilience that defines the best in the automotive industry. Her willingness to work while attending school shows the dedication that builds not just good technicians, but future industry leaders.

TechForce receives more than 12,000 applications from students with deep financial need each year. In 2025 alone, TechForce awarded more than $6 million in scholarships and grants. While this is an impressive sum of awards, it's still only awarding 1 in every 7 applicants. We need more donations to help more students obtain the technical training required to be workforce ready.

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