Wyatt Blakeman
Meet Wyatt Blakeman, he graduated in 2017 from Gillette College with an Associate of Applied Science Diesel Technology. He was born and raised in Buffalo, WY. Since Wyatt was a young boy, he has been around heavy equipment and working on them, that’s why there is no surprise that he has such a strong passion for heavy equipment. In high school, he was active in the Future Farmers of America and competed at the National level for 2 years straight. Then he graduated high school in 2015. “Having this kind of background, I felt the diesel program would be a great fit for me to further my knowledge and ability to keep doing those things and I still get to play with trucks, just the bigger version from when I was a kid.” After touring many different schools that offered the Diesel Technology Program, Wyatt was very impressed by Gillette College; we have top-of-the-line equipment, very knowledgeable instructors, and state-of-the-art facilities. Wyatt lived on campus his first year and off campus his second year. He had a great experience living on campus, he met some of his best friends in college and almost 6 years later they are still close. “I think it’s a good experience for anyone fresh out of high school to go and meet new people and get that life experience on and off campus.” While in college Wyatt enjoyed college sports games, basketball, and the local hockey team. He also really enjoyed the fun he had with his roommates in the suites on campus. Most of his hobbies and activities revolve around diesel performance and anything mechanically related. Wyatt was never for core classes such as math and English growing up, he did not enjoy them in college either. He has always loved and enjoyed the hands-on technical learning he got to experience in his diesel and welding classes. Wyatt’s values include helping others and being kind to everyone. You never know what kind of day others are having and you could be the one to change that. “I think that is what I’ve enjoyed a lot about being a heavy-duty truck mechanic and being able to help people and get them back on the road after having a rough day.” Generally, they’re happy to see you show up with tolls and parts to get them going again no matter the situation. Wyatt is currently working in the trucking and diesel industry for a family propane business maintaining and building their fleet trucks, he someday hopes to own and operate his own trucking company. His advice for future students would be: “I’d say go have the time of your life, make new friends, go see all the things life has to offer, and don’t let anything hold you back. If you have that gut feeling of questioning whether to take that leap into something new, that is when you jump. I’ve got to see and do many things if life already that I wouldn’t have gotten to experience had I not taken that leap.” Wyatt’s favorite thing about being a college alumnus is he is proud to say that he was a Gillette Pronghorn, and he successfully completed his associate degree in the diesel program. Still passing the school to this day he still feels that rush of memories from all the fun times that he had while in college.
Thank you so much, Wyatt! The Gillette College Foundation is proud to recognize you as a Gillette College Alumni!
