By Precious Kenney
The Scene staff
Louise Johnson raised four children and earned a high school diploma through a Mers Goodwill program before she decided to enroll in college.
Her field of study? Automotive technology. The 43-year-old didn’t care that students at Forest Park and in similar programs across the country are overwhelmingly men.
“My long-term goal is to open my own automotive shop,” she said. “With all women.”
Johnson inherited her love for cars from her father, who owned a mechanic business in the St. Louis area.
“He would always tell me, ‘Don’t get stuck on the side of the road,’” she recalled with a smile.
“He taught me the tricks and the trades of not getting stuck on the side of the road, and when I graduated high school, I chose automotive technology.”
Program goes way back
Automotive technology was one of the first programs offered at the new Forest Park campus of St. Louis Community College in 1967.
In those days, only men took automotive technology classes, but that hasn’t been the case for decades, according to Joe Jackson, program coordinator and department chair.
“We have had women in automotive for a while,” he said. “Every semester.”
The diesel technology program isn’t as popular with women, according to instructor Daniel Borgers. There are no women currently enrolled.
“We encourage female students to enroll through school-outreach programs like SkillsUSA,” he said. “This helps us get our name out there and teach people about what we do.”
SkillsUSA is an organization that hosts regional competitions for high-school and college students interested in trade, technical and skilled-service careers.
Women join the automotive technology program at Forest Park for a variety of reasons, Borgers said.
Some want to become mechanics. Others just want to learn the terminology so they can communicate with people fixing their cars.
Anyone can enroll in diesel technology, but some women are discouraged by its physical requirements, including the ability to lift semi engines that weigh 70 to 80 pounds.
Six women are enrolled in the automotive technology program, according to Jackson.
“Everyone gets along,” Borgers said. “This field is very male dominated. It’s generally a fast-paced environment, but everyone is team-oriented.
“If you can’t physically do something, you need to be willing to ask for help. Overall, the automotive community is like a family.”
Most students are male
Five percent of automotive technology students in Missouri are women, according a MoSCORES report by the state of Missouri. At Forest Park, it’s 7%.
STLCC offers both a certificate of proficiency and an associate in applied science.
At the end of coursework, students must pass an Automotive Service Excellence exam to prepare for employment in the automotive service and repair industry.
Johnson’s current project in the Forest Park garage is rebuilding the 3.4-liter engine of a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. She’s partnering with students Tyler Havernstick, 20, and Will Vankirk, 18.
Johnson is one of two women Havernstick has worked with in the program, but he has noticed no difference in the way they’re treated by instructors or other students.
“If there was a difference, someone would say something.” he said.
“We are all going for the same associates, and we’re all getting certified.
“We are all in the same group, on the same team. Nobody is going to be getting special treatment over someone else.”
Johnson has no problem working with male students, she said. “Oh, they all love me. They love me.”
Visitor likes seeing women
On a recent weekday, Denise Depelheuer stopped by the Forest Park garage to get her oil changed by her son, Nathan Depelheuer, a student in automotive technology.
Denise Depelheuer, 67, is a retiree who worked in administration and labor relations for the United Auto Workers, the largest automotive union in the country.
Denise Depelheuer was happy to see women in the Forest Park garage.
“I worked in the automotive industry for 25 years,” she said.
“Half my career was in Michigan (and) half was at Wentzville GM. When I started, there wasn’t a lot of women involved in that kind of stuff.”
Denise Depelheuer’s father also worked for GM, which sparked her interest in the company.
“It was tough,” she said. “It was a different time for women back then. The best thing was when I met men who weren’t afraid to share their knowledge.
“I met a lot of great role models (both men and women) who weren’t afraid to share knowledge, and that’s who helped me advance my career. The women weren’t like, ‘I made it on my own, so you’re on your own honey.’ It wasn’t like that.
“I love seeing women working hands-on and not just being on the paperwork side. I don’t think everyone needs some fancy college degree to be successful.”
