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Boehm found his fit and graduated debt-free from BSC

Minnkota PowerLike many high school graduates, Tyler Boehm wasn’t sure which career to pursue. That’s why he was drawn to the affordability of BSC.
 
“I started in Business Management and then completed one semester of Process Plant Technology to try and become an operator but didn’t think it was a good fit for me,” said Boehm. He knew he liked working with his hands and fixing things, something he had experience with while growing up on a farm.
 
In addition, his dad has been an operator at Minnkota Power Cooperative’s Milton R. Young Station in Center for more than 40 years, so he was exposed to that work early on and was intrigued by it.
 
While Boehm was at BSC, the Mechanical Maintenance Technology program was developed. “I applied to be in that class because I’ve always enjoyed repairing machinery and found it interesting how much equipment it takes to produce power.” It turned out to be the right fit. “I was one of the first students through the course and helped get the Mandan campus up and running,” he said.

Boehm graduated with his Associate in Applied Science degree in 2008 and is now 11 years into his career at Minnkota Power Cooperative. He said his coursework at BSC prepared him well for his role there as a Maintenance Supervisor. “The Mandan campus is where I tore down big pumps and learned hydraulics and welding skills. BSC gave me my foot in the door to get internships and do job shadowing, which introduced me to industrial machinery and the industrial environment.”
 
Even with the money Boehm spent on those initial soul-searching credits, he graduated debt-free since he was able to work a part-time job while attending school.