Student goes from NAIT automotive shops to world stage

Student goes from NAIT’s automotive shops to world stage

Aaron Taves credits NAIT and industry donors for his world-class performance

When Aaron Taves began his (Automotive Technician ‘18) training at NAIT, he didn’t expect travelling across the world – nor the doors that would open and opportunities to get involved with the community.  

In October 2017, Taves and 2 other NAIT skilled trades students travelled to Abu Dhabi and competed in the WorldSkills competition. Taves’s automotive talents earned him a medallion of excellence for being among the top third competitors.

“[WorldSkills] teaches things like discipline, punctuality and being precise with nearly everything you do.”

For Taves, the most memorable moments included gaining new life experiences and skills within his trade to help further him down the road. “It teaches things like discipline, punctuality and being precise with nearly everything you do,” he says.

WorldSkills also taught him the importance of hard work. Leading up to the big event, Taves worked full-time at Fountain Tire. He drove from Camrose 3 times a week to train in NAIT’s automotive shops for more than 2 hours with instructor Robert Prediger.

“If I wouldn’t have had the guidance from Rob and all that extra training, I wouldn’t have done nearly as well as I did,” he admits.

NAIT classroom and scholarships fuelled his success

Taves credits NAIT for providing the support that fuelled his success. Over the course of his training, he was able to practice after-hours in the mechanic shops equipped with donated vehicles and tools. He also received 5 scholarships from NAIT, which paved the way for competing at Skills Canada, EuroSkills and WorldSkills. The scholarships allowed him to buy more tools for working as an auto mechanic and pay for extra training.

Now, as Taves approaches the final stage of his education – he convocates in May 2018 – he says he isn’t quite done yet. He plans to enrol in the Bachelor of Business Administration program through NAIT’s Trades Degree pathway. Taking this next step in his career will help Taves become his own boss someday.

“Since a young age, I was learning the fundamentals of having a business and taking opportunities as they came.”

“My father is an entrepreneur,” he explains, “Since a young age, I was learning the fundamentals of having a business and taking opportunities as they came.”

As he inches closer to his Journeyman ticket, Taves says he is incredibly grateful for the education he’s received at NAIT and wants to give back to the community. He eagerly shares his experience as an automotive technician with high school students.

Resilience, he says, is one of the most valuable skills he learned at NAIT. In particular, the ability to get back up after being knocked down during competitions – a bit of wisdom he wants to impart to the next generation.

 “It was one of the best things I’ve learned, and I take it home with me every day."

Published on March 13, 2018