From No Engine Experience to National Competitor: Ayse Macknight’s Marine Service Journey
by Vicki Heisser |
When Ayse Macknight enrolled in Prince William Sound College's Marine Service Technology
program, she had never worked on an engine. Less than a year later, she graduated
with her Occupational Endorsement Certificate, competed on the national stage at SkillsUSA,
earned scholarships and tools, and continues to build her expertise through Yamaha's
Train the Trainer program.
"I had absolutely no engine experience before coming to Prince William Sound College,"
Ayse said. "Within five months of learning under Anthony Gerasch, I was able to get
fifth place in a national competition, which I still think is insane to think about."
Ayse is quick to credit much of her success to instructor Anthony Gerasch Jr., whose
guidance transformed what began as a completely unfamiliar subject into a lifelong
skill set and career path.
"Anthony has been an incredible instructor," she said. "The skills he's taught me
will affect the rest of my life. He doesn't just teach you how to work an engine.
He teaches you how to think through problems, understand how systems work, and have
confidence in your abilities."
After placing third in Power Equipment and second in Marine Service Technology at
the Alaska State SkillsUSA Championships, Ayse earned a trip to the SkillsUSA National
Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Competing against students from
across the country, she placed fifth in Power Equipment. Fellow PWSC student Tristan
Taylor placed fourth in Marine Service Technology.
One challenge at the national competition required participants to diagnose and repair
a weed whacker that refused to start. There was just one problem: Ayse had never worked
on a weed whacker before.
"I remember looking at it and thinking, 'Well, this should be interesting,'" she said.
Drawing on the troubleshooting skills she learned at PWSC, she methodically worked
through the problem and determined that the ignition coil had failed.
"It really goes to show how much, even though I'm just learning about outboards and
boat stuff, it applies to all kinds of motors," she said.
The experience reinforced one of the core lessons Anthony emphasizes in the program:
understanding the fundamentals of how systems work and developing a logical approach
to diagnosing problems.
"It wasn't until I was presented with that challenge that I realized how much I had
learned," Ayse said. "I didn't have experience with that equipment, but I still knew
how to troubleshoot it."
Along the way, Ayse received more than $1,000 worth of tools and earned scholarships
for additional coursework. She also had the opportunity to tour Yamaha's headquarters
and training facilities while attending the national competition.
This week, Ayse is back at PWSC participating in Yamaha's Outboard Maintenance Certification:
Train the Trainer program. The training brings educators from around Alaska to Valdez
to earn Yamaha certifications and prepare to teach maintenance curriculum in their
own communities. As a recent graduate, Ayse's participation speaks not only to her
dedication to learning but also to the opportunities available through the program.
Later this summer, she plans to return to California after receiving a grant to earn
her teaching credential. Her long-term goal is to return to Alaska.
From her first days in the shop to competing on the national stage, Ayse's success
highlights what can happen when students are willing to put in the work and take advantage
of the opportunities at hand.