It’s somewhat rare to see a female fixing a vehicle, but New Community Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI) student Eula Juanita Lovett hopes that is changing. She will complete the Automotive Technician program at NCCTI in May and already has a full-time job lined up at S&A Auto Center in Newark.

Lovett is particularly excited about her job because the auto repair shop is in Newark, where she lives, and is co-owned by a woman. Hilda Mera owns S&A Auto Center with her husband and has requested to be connected with female NCCTI students in the Automotive Technician program.

“For me, it is very important to hire women,” Mera said.

In addition to hiring female technicians to work on vehicles, Mera exposes them to the administrative side of the business should they want to pursue positions as managers or owners. Lovett is interested in furthering her career in the automotive field beyond the technician level, so she’s excited to learn more about leadership opportunities, especially from a female perspective.

Lovett also wants to be an honest mechanic that customers trust.

“I want to help women understand their cars better and keep up with maintenance so they’re not going to get scammed,” she said.

Lovett decided to pursue a career in the automotive industry because of the connection she developed with cars through her brother, who passed away two years ago. The pair bonded over video games, and the first one that they played together was the racing game Need for Speed. Her brother also gave her driving lessons and helped her pass her road test on the first try. 

The independence that comes with being able to drive has always been important to Lovett as well.

“It’s freedom to be able to get to where you need to go, when you have to go,” she said.

Lovett lives close to NCCTI’s main campus and saw the school’s sign when she was walking to the corner store. She saw the program offerings and liked the idea that community was in the name since she is very connected to Newark. She spoke with NCCTI Admissions Representative Aziza Johnson and decided to enroll in the Automotive Technician program. She started in July.

Her experience at NCCTI has been positive. She has learned a lot and says instructors John Zaccheus and Winston Thomas have built an environment that promotes learning.

“They create this space where you can make mistakes, ask for help and correct it,” she said. “And now I have the tools that I need to prevent that next time.”

Lovett also said the hands-on aspect of the training is incredibly valuable in preparing students for the real world.

“I can read about cars all day, but until I actually pop the hood, put it on a lift and see what’s wrong, it doesn’t mean anything,” she said.

Being part of the Automotive Technician class has had its challenges, with Lovett facing some doubts and fears along the way. But she’s grateful for the opportunity and knows the experience will make her stronger and she will have a career she enjoys.

“Women deserve to be in this program,” Lovett said. “I just want this school to keep encouraging more women to sign up and give more women autonomy in any field that they choose.”

Mera agrees and hopes to continue working with NCCTI to give women opportunities in the automotive field.

“I love what the school is doing with the young generation, or whoever wants to learn this trade,” she said. “Especially because they’re empowering young ladies that want to pursue this career.”

NCCTI Director Miguel Pacheco said the school is committed to helping all students realize their career goals.

“We enroll students in their program of choice and work to educate them and prepare them for a career in that field,” he said. “We’re so pleased to have employer partners like S&A Auto Center that are looking to not just employ our students but mentor them and help them navigate the next steps in their career.”

Lovett appreciates the staff at NCCTI and recommends the school to everyone she meets who might be interested in automotive and health care training. She also said if she has children and they’re looking for those types of programs, she will sign them up at NCCTI.