Dallas College

Student Experience: Alonzo L. Adams

“I was eager to learn, and the Diesel program really excited me. The more I learned, the more I realize it’s not so hard. All of my instructors have been knowledgeable; any questions I had for them, they were pretty much able to answer everything. These are great courses if you want to work on diesel engines. 

“I really liked disassembling the diesel motors and comparing them to regular engines, the teardown and rebuilding — really, all the hands-on experience. The best thing about the program has been the knowledge I’ve gotten and also the self-worth behind it. 

“If this is a job you want to do and you end up liking it, the instruction will make you eager to do and learn more. My advice to someone thinking about starting out in this field? Don’t procrastinate: just get into it, and your education will make you want to keep going. Go ahead and just jump into it.” 

Alonzo Adams is working on both an associate degree in Automotive Technology and a Diesel and Heavy Equipment certificate at Cedar Valley. A self-employed mechanic, he also teaches classes in Automotive Technology as an adjunct faculty member for the college’s Dual Credit program with area high schools.


Read More

Rafael Merren

Rafael Merren

Owner/Operator Grump’s Rod Shop
“It’s great to have intelligent capabilities, but if you don’t have the skillsets to back them up, what’s the point of going out into the real world? If you have a practical skill, you can always put bread on the table.”
Auto Body Technology
Kathryn Jaeger

Kathryn Jaeger

Technician, Trophy Nissan of Mesquite
“People look at a car and open the hood and see all the hoses and connections, and maybe think, ‘I am never going to figure this out.' Then you learn the basic concepts, and it’s more simplistic than you would think.”
Automotive Technology
Doug Jochum

Doug Jochum

Art Teacher Skyline High School
“The students here are also attentive and helpful — I found out right away that there’s a group of them who have been here a while and who will chip in to help you do anything you don’t understand or help hold something you’re working on. I think that attitude is a reflection of the teaching here as well.”
Welding
Dan Walter

Dan Walter

Owner Energy Efficient Solutions
“I would recommend this program because it gives you a good background in air conditioning. Probably 70% of technicians out there don’t have a good idea of how air conditioning works. They’re taught what to do to make systems work, but they don’t have real understanding of what they’re doing.”
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology
Alonzo Adams
Alonzo L. Adams
Self-Employed Mechanic Adjunct Automotive Technology Faculty Cedar Valley
Automotive, Automotive Technology, Automotive Technology - Diesel and Heavy Equipment
School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology
Updated July 28, 2026