HOPEDALE — Big trucks are this high school senior’s bread and butter.
Josh Maillet, a Hopedale resident who attends Blackstone Valley Technical High School in Upton, recently took first place in the diesel equipment technology competition at the SkillsUSA State Championship on April 26. That earned him a trip to the nationals in Atlanta.
Maillet was among 12 students to earn a spot in the state competition based on results from online qualifying rounds. During the event, students tested their knowledge of tools, precision measurement, vehicle components and job interview skills, and challenged their skills at workstations that included tasks related to engine diagnostics, electrical systems, brakes, tires, air systems and more.
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In a recent interview with the Daily News, Maillet said he became interested in working with heavy trucks after competing in a diesel skills competition two years ago.
“Doing that diesel competition was kind of like an introduction to the field and that’s really what got me interested,” he said. This year was Maillet’s third competing in the diesel SkillsUSA competition.
Maillet came to BVT with no automotive technology knowledge
Maillet came to Blackstone Valley as a sophomore, previously having no knowledge of automotive technology.
“My mom’s a teacher and my dad’s a construction worker, so I had no introduction to anything mechanical until I was quite a bit older,” he said. “But ever since going to BVT, that’s where I’ve really gained all of my experience.”
In addition to his studies, Maillet is working at a co-op with Advantage Truck Group (ATG) in Shrewsbury.
“The competition was a really cool opportunity, because the people here at ATG really do a good job of making it relevant to the industry and having all the tasks we do be really similar to stuff I’d be seeing in the real world,” Maillet said.
As for what’s next, Maillet plans to work full time at ATG for the summer, before attending the University of Northwestern Ohio to study diesel technology. He wants to pursue college because the scholarship money he received from SkillsUSA and other competitions have almost entirely covered his tuition, according to Maillet.
“I’m trying to take advantage of that and the most education possible before I start full time,” he said.
Teacher praises Maillet’s work as a student
Michael Godowski, an instructor in the automotive technology program at Blackstone Valley Tech who has taught Maillet for five trimesters, expressed pride in his student’s accomplishments.
“It makes me proud,” Godowski told the Daily News. Godowski said Maillet’s accomplishments makes him feel like a proud father, even though he’s just 28.
“Obviously not, but it makes me very proud because we switch teachers every trimester,” Godowski said. “I’ve had Josh in one of my classes five times now. It just makes me really proud, (he’s) incredibly bright, so it’s cool to see that progression, and I’m excited to see where he goes.”
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In addition, Godowski and Maillet are both Eagle Scouts.
“He’s an Eagle Scout, so when he was doing his Eagle project, me and the other two instructors actually went to help, and that was pretty cool,” Godowski said. “He’s just an incredible kid, he’s just very intelligent, probably one of the smartest kids I’ve taught.”
Maillet will head to Atlanta in June to compete in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills. He and his classmates graduate from Blackstone Valley Tech on Thursday.