For Collision Repair Technology graduate, Autumn Harvey, every repair begins with imagining the finished product.
Before the welding starts or the body filler is shaped, she pictures the customer seeing their vehicle restored. She thinks about straight body panels, flawless paint, and the satisfaction of bringing something damaged back to life.
"I think about the customer being happy and what the finished product is going to look like," Harvey said. "Seeing the finished product is really gratifying. It is rewarding work."
That mindset has been with her from the beginning.
Harvey discovered collision repair as a sophomore at Dennis Technical Education Center in Boise. She signed up without knowing exactly what to expect, but it did not take long to realize she had found something she genuinely enjoyed.
"I got into auto body because I have always been interested in art, and I found out you could do art on cars," she said. "I took the class, loved it."
Sanding, restoring panels, shaping body filler, welding, and bringing damaged vehicles back to life blended creativity with craftsmanship. Harvey knew she had found something she wanted to pursue.
"They sent me on job shadows, and after seeing professionals in the industry, I realized I loved the body side of collision repair," she said. "I enjoy filler work, metal work, plastic repair, and welding. It has been a great career path, and I really fell in love with it."
When it came time to continue her education, College of Western Idaho (CWI) offered exactly what she was looking for: a place to sharpen her technical skills and prepare for a career in collision repair.
"I heard about CWI while I was in high school and thought it was a great option," Harvey said. "It was shorter than a four-year degree, but I could still get the knowledge and experience I needed."
The experience quickly became about more than learning a trade.
"From my first day, I was greeted with a smile, and all of the instructors have been so supportive," she said. "They have really helped prepare me for both the program and my career."
Between time in the classroom and hours in the lab, Harvey learned the many sides of collision repair. From welding and structural repairs to refinishing and color matching. Just as important, she learned how those individual skills come together to restore a vehicle from start to finish.
Outside the classroom, Harvey was also involved in SkillsUSA, a student-led organization that develops leadership, workplace, and technical skills through competition and service. She was first introduced to the program in high school, where she quickly became involved and served as chapter president.
Curious to experience the college level, she joined CWI’s chapter and served as secretary during her first year before becoming vice president during her second. Along the way, she found mentors and a community that encouraged her to keep growing.
"I made a lot of friends through CWI and SkillsUSA Idaho," she said. "Meeting every couple of weeks helped keep me on track and reminded me that I had people outside my program I could rely on."
Competition became another classroom.
The first time Harvey competed at the national level in Collision Repair Technology, she finished fourth. Instead of focusing on what she missed, she focused on what she could improve.
"I learned a lot from that experience," she said. "I looked at my scores and worked hard to improve the areas where I did not score as well."
She returned to the shop determined to refine every detail of her craft. When she stepped back onto the competition floor the following year, she was ready.
After winning the 2026 Idaho SkillsUSA Collision Repair Technology competition, Harvey advanced to the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, GA. Competitors were tested through mock interviews, written exams, welding, sheet metal repair, plastic repair, and structural damage analysis – skills that mirror the demands of the industry.
When the awards ceremony arrived, Harvey heard her name called as the national gold medalist in Collision Repair Technology.
"It was one of the best moments of my life," she said. "Hearing my name called and having my instructor, Sean McConnachie, place the medal around my neck was incredible. All of my hard work paid off in that moment."
Today, Harvey puts those same skills to work as a body technician at Kenworth Sales Company, repairing commercial trucks. The work may look somewhat different from what she practiced in class, but the foundation remains the same.
"What I learned at CWI is different from what I do every day at work, but it all translates," she said. "Every skill I learned at school has helped me in some way throughout my career."
Harvey also hopes her story encourages more women to see themselves in careers they may not have considered.
"I will not lie, it can be difficult," she said. "You do not always receive the same trust or respect right away that men sometimes do. But if you work hard and prove yourself, you can go much farther than you think."
She believes women bring valuable strengths to the industry and wants more of them to give it a chance.
"I encourage women to get out there, get their hands dirty, and give it a try," she said. "It is fun, rewarding work."
As she worked her way through CWI, Harvey also received support through the Idaho LAUNCH scholarship and the SkillsUSA scholarship, helping ease the cost of college while she balanced school and work.
At home, her biggest supporters never missed a chance to cheer her on, including her mother, who stood on the sidelines at national competitions celebrating every milestone along the way.
"My family has been incredibly supportive," she said. "They bought me tools when I could not afford them."
Looking back, Harvey is grateful she took a chance on a class she knew very little about. What started as an interest in art became a career that challenges her creativity every day.
"I really do love what I do," she said. "It feels like I am doing arts and crafts all day and getting paid for it."
She smiles when she thinks about the path that brought her here.
"I feel like I am doing what I was meant to do," she said. "I think my younger self would be proud of where I am today."
Your path could begin in the shop, too. Discover hands-on programs in Collision Repair Technology and other Industrial Technology and Trades fields at CWI, where you can develop the skills employers are looking for and prepare for a rewarding career.
