Alamo Academies launching heavy equipment course

SAN ANTONIO – The pending launch of a new course focused on heavy equipment as part of the Alamo Academies program already has a number of local industry groups eager to participate.

Next year, the program will expand to include courses in the operation and maintenance of heavy equipment and machinery.

The new curriculum has piqued the interest of major equipment dealers in the area such as Holt Cat, Zachry Construction and Martin Marietta Materials.

Howard Hicks, a vice president with Holt Cat, says he is excited about the start-up of the new academy and has already lined up skilled technicians to train students who enter the two-year program.

Alamo Academies is a nonprofit partnership between Alamo Colleges, local high schools, local industry groups and the City of San Antonio.

Since its inception in 2001, it has helped to prepare more than 1,000 high school students for potential careers in manufacturing, information technology and health care.