Sherrie Wilcox, a resourceful, “can-do” woman, sold her home and purchased a 58-foot yacht to create a more mobile lifestyle. She soon realized she needed to be prepared if an engine failed while at sea. So, Wilcox enrolled at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Knoxville to study diesel-powered equipment technology.
She wanted to understand everything that’s part of an engine and maybe even learn how to create ones with better fuel mileage. But when she enrolled, Wilcox says, she didn’t even know what a piston was.
Having earned good grades, the former model is scheduled to graduate the diesel program in December, then enroll in the machine tools technology program in January. She’s also an experienced salesperson, so besides being able to maintain her yacht’s engines, she sees knowledge of diesel technology as an opportunity to sell products in the industry.
Wilcox, currently SkillsUSA’s national college/postsecondary treasurer, earned gold in Tennessee’s 2016 Job Interview contest and has earned the gold level of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. As an American Red Cross disaster volunteer, she travels where needed and works from 6 a.m. to midnight for three weeks at a time.
