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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2016)
12 community august18 2016 Where Are They Now? Dillon Dethlefs At the age of 18 Dethlefs trav- eled straight from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine and began working in New Hampshire and Vermont, and then moved on to Idaho where he managed his own crew swapping out blades on wind turbines. From Idaho, he went on to New Mexico for several months. “I learned a lot real quick and it was really an awesome experience,” says Dethlefs. “If a kid wanted to learn a good trade, this is a field that is always Dethlefs competing at the 2016 Vernonia Jamboree Logging Show. Dethlefs it was a bit of a struggle to move up to college level academic studies. “I’m more of a hands on type of learner, so when it comes to books I really had to put my nose to the grindstone,” he says. “I didn’t really know how to study but luckily I always had my previous teach- ers from Vernonia that I could call and they would give me pointers and ways to study and learn.” Dethlefs graduated from North- west Renewable Energy Institute with a 3.0 GPA and a year’s worth of college credits. Following his graduation he began applying for jobs and was hired to work as a travel technician by Sky Climber Wind Solutions, a supplier of premiere wind turbine maintenance, re- pair, and inspection services. Last season Dethlefs won the OMRA Off Road Championship. going to be around. This industry has all sorts of different trades involved in it - ironworking, hydraulics, electrical. You can get paid to travel to different states and if you get your passport you could continued on page 13 Ha nd -cr Loc al o rga nic sta rts & aft ed May - September go od NEW LOCATION! s & mo pro re New lo duce cation ! ! Interested in Vending? PleaseContact Penny (503) 804-0424 or Bill (971) 998-3705 A PROJECT OF: n C ia OMM U o ! & Weed St. of Bridge The corner Adams Avenue City Hall) from Street) (across (at Bridge TY NI ve rn “It definitely was a good time and a good experience,” says Dethlefs about his years in the Vernonia school system. “All the teachers, all the teachers’ aides, coaches, library staff... everyone helped me out a lot, both back in the past in high school and still to this day. They were a big influence on me and they definitely helped me.” At the graduation ceremo- ny, Dethlefs was very surprised to be selected to receive the “Chance to Become Scholarship” which is awarded each year by school staff to a deserving student. The schol- arship is aimed at students who might not be eligible or qualify Dillon Dethlefs accepting the Chance to Become Scholarship from Gordon Jarman at his for typical scholarships. In many VHS 2012 graduation. cases they are considered average ther than high school.” students and may come from fami- “I witnessed a young man who lies that cannot pay for their continuing education. They might be students with had incredible desire to not just work a special talent or they may have over- hard and get through some tough stuff, come behavioral or personal problems. but who always seemed willing to help It is a $5,000 scholarship, given to a stu- others if he saw a need,” says School dent over two continuous school years, Maintenance Supervisor, Mark Brown $2,500 each year. The program pays for about Dethlefs. “It is one of those things expenses associated with attending a I am not sure if people are born with or four-year college or university, a com- become. I think he could have thrown in munity college, or a career school for a the towel several times and no one would have blamed him. But he kept pushing professional trade certificate. “I certainly wasn’t expecting on and was an inspiration to many peo- that when I was sitting there at gradua- ple he may not have been aware of, both tion,” says Dethlefs. “When my name other classmates and grownups.” Dethlefs used his scholarship was called it was definitely emotional for me. When I was chosen it gave me a to attend Northwest Renewable Energy lot of confidence in myself and the con- Institute in Vancouver, Washington and fidence to go and further my education. completed a six month program to be- No one in my family had ever gone fur- come a Wind Turbine Technician. For continued from front page Garden June t MIKE PIHL LOGGING CO., INC Free Estimates Specializing in Private Timber 503-429-1470 cell 503.789.1268 fax 503.429.0252 mplogging@frontier.com 1984 mist drive, po box 321 vernonia, or 97064
