The official technical school of NHRA, WyoTech, is drawing in more than just male students these days. Breaking the traditional role of male mechanics and fabricators, this tech school has had more of an influx of women at its six campuses in recent years. Two female success stories from the school are Liz Miles and Jessi Combs (above), who both have quickly launched into careers shortly after graduation.

Jessi Combs is a face that might look familiar, as she was the co-host for Xtreme 4x4 on Spike TV for over three years after graduating from the WyoTech’s Laramie campus in the Collision Refinishing Core Program. The daughter of a mechanical engineer, Combs eventually decided upon a career in the automotive field in her late teens, but only after turning down a scholarship to a prestigious interior design school.

Once enrolled at WyoTech, Combs studied collision/refinishing, street rod fabrication, chassis fab and high performance engines, and she graduated at the top of her class in all of her disciplines. Her academic successes led to quick employment by WyoTech to fabricate, customize and paint a 1964 Mercury Cyclone to represent the school at the SEMA show.

Combs then went on to appear as a guest fabricator in the “SpeedAir” and “Cherry Nova” episodes of Overhaulin before becoming a co-host of Xtreme 4x4. She recently worked with Speed Channel to co-host its one-hour SEMA Show Special last year, covering the highlights of the show.

Like Combs, Miles (above) also attended WyoTech’s Laramie campus. She proved that despite changing her goals after graduating, she still was able to apply the knowledge she learned in school effectively in the automotive field. But what is it that led her down this path in the first place? Simple - her first car was a ’68 Camaro.

“When I got it, I didn’t know a thing about it,” Miles said. “Like most old cars, it failed me a couple times, forcing me to learn its systems. I quickly found out that I enjoyed working on the car. I became a helper to the auto shop teacher and began to lead the class. I knew that after high school I would want to learn more, so I did.”

At WyoTech, Miles took courses on applied service management, the automotive core program, chassis fabrication and street rod, working toward her goal of becoming a welder and fabricator. She decided to change her focus after graduation, however, because she decided being a full-time welder/fabricator was not for her. That’s when she found opportunity in the media side of the business, as she now works the technical editor for Popular Hot Rodding Magazine.

“The magazine biz fits like a glove,” Miles said. “I enjoy sharing what I have learned through school, Dominator [Street Rods of Brentwood, CA], racing, and all my at-home car adventures.”

Miles’ writing focuses on the tech behind car builds, products installations, feature cars and even projects she tackles while working on her own vehicle. The training she received at WyoTech has been invaluable thus far. If she had to pick one area that was the most beneficial with regard to her career, Miles says the hands-on fabrication work is at the top of the list.

“The chassis fab class was my best class,” she said. “The confidence I gained working with the welders made me really believe I could do anything with enough practice.”

Combs also praised WyoTech for providing her the skills she needs in the automotive market.

“At WyoTech, I received the skill set necessary to take me as far as my imagination will lead me,” Combs said.

WyoTech offers a range of different curriculum for career training in automotive technology, collision refinishing, diesel technology, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, marine and motorcycle technology and more. There are campuses in Blairsville, PA, Daytona, FL, Fremont, CA, Laramie, WY, Long Beach, CA, and Sacramento, CA. WyoTech describes its programs as impacted short-term courses, noting that most students complete their schooling in less than 16 months. For more information, visit www.wyotech.edu.