August 12, 2013 - 57-Year-Old UTI Grad Shows that Wheels of Knowledge Never Stop Turning

Steve Joly (left) graduating from UTI’s Orlando campus. Education Manager Jeff Pittman presents Steve with his diploma.

Universal Technical Institute graduate Steve Joly had more than four decades of automotive experience before enrolling at UTI’s Orlando campus. The 57-year-old even owned his own race shop in Connecticut (Performance Plus More) which catered to high-performance cars. So why did he enroll?

“For me, it was a knowledge gap,” said Joly. “Even though I was a wrenching pro with early-model vehicles, I didn’t have the computer and electronic skills needed to work under the hood of pre-1990s model cars.”

When he enrolled at UTI, Joly said he initially felt intimidated.

“Many of the students in the class were 18 years old and I could have been their dad – or even grandfather,” he said. “But I was immediately put at ease because of the welcoming environment. The instructors were well-versed and knowledgeable – and I felt more confident in my computer diagnostics ability each day.”

A Hometown Connection

The transition back to school also felt more comfortable because of UTI-Orlando auto instructor Glenn Jones. Joly learned that they both grew up racing cars and knew the same people in a close-knit racing community in northern Pennsylvania.

“Steve was such a positive presence on our campus,” said Jones. “It was an added bonus to meet someone who came from the same neck of the woods.”

The duo worked together to rebuild a T-bucket engine that the school used in its road shows to prospective students.

Jones was impressed by the fact that even though Joly had a tremendous amount of experience, he was always humble and willing to help. In addition, the auto veteran provided real-world examples in class that helped reinforce what UTI instructors taught.

“It took a lot of courage for him to come back to school, and now he can integrate his skill sets,” added Jones. “I know he can be successful in whatever road he chooses to pursue.”

Now ASE-certified as a master technician and skilled in computer diagnostics, Joly is confident in taking that road and opening his own auto technician shop in West Palm, Fla.

Read more about Steve’s journey in this Orlando Sentinel column.