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Alexandria Technical & Community College has long been known as “the college that cares,” with faculty building relationships with each student, as an individual. It is the fostering of strong student relationships, which evolve into strong alumni relationships, that allows Alexandria College to maintain open doors to its graduates who are not only willing but volunteer, to take time out of their busy schedules to talk to students.

“I reached out to Mark [Lindemann, a Marine, Motorcycle, & Powersports Technician Instructor at Alexandria College,] primarily just to express some appreciation for the program and the impact it has had on me and my career,” said Adam Doraska, a 2016 graduate of the Powersports program. “I enjoy being able to take the time every couple of years and visit those that have had a significant impact on my career path and development.”

Lindemann and the Powersports faculty worked with Doraska to share his career experiences with students. On December 7, 2023, Doraska spoke to current Powersports students plus a group of students from Parkers Prairie High School in Parkers Prairie, Minn.

One of the students asked Doraska why he chose Alexandria College over other schools with Powersports programs. Doraska, originally from Pennock, Minn., graduated from Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School in 2013. He had been debating between multiple colleges in Minnesota and one in Arizona.

“I ultimately chose to go to ATCC because of the transparency of the program and the faculty I had the opportunity to talk to before enrollment," Doraska said. "ATCC had a much broader scope of what products they covered and the skills you would be able to take into the career field.”

While a student at Alexandria College, Doraska was a student ambassador for the college helping with various activities on campus and recruiting events. He also competed in SkillsUSA. In 2016, he took first place at nationals for marine service technology and second place at the state level for motorcycle service technology.

Now an engine testing and product development technician at Lube-Tech—a lubrications and wash solutions company headquartered in Golden Valley, Minn.—Doraska shared with the students how Alexandria College was instrumental to his educational and professional development. He told the students that going to Alexandria College instilled a focus on professionalism, cleanliness, and safety, and prepared him to thrive in the workforce. 

“ATCC holds many of the industry standards within its program,” Doraska said. “You are expected to show up ready for work at a set time each day as well as showing up ready to work; meaning you’re in uniform, safety glasses, safety-toed shoes or boots, etc.”

The skills learned in the Marine, Motorcycle, & Powersports Technician program create a foundation for students to leave college and be successful technicians in the field. Course materials used throughout the program provide real-world resources for students to carry with them throughout their professional careers.

“I still have my Powersports program clipboard with common cross-references and equations, that I use every time I am building pretty much anything,” Doraska said. 

Doraska shared with the students what the current industry looks like and what would be waiting for them after they graduate college. He stressed the need for maintenance technicians, but he also talked about other opportunities in the career field such as research and development.

In his current role at Lube-Tech, Doraska works on engine testing and product development and completes an array of client, customer, and internal test projects.

“Powersports is unlike most other industries in that the people you will meet have powersports products out of passion, not typically necessity,” Doraska said. “It’s an amazing career field that will engage you with people from all walks of life.”

Graduates like Adam Doraska are a testament to the impact of Alexandria College on the Minnesota workforce. Across all trades, ATCC creates professionals who lead in the industry. Passionate alumni like Doraska are instrumental in building up the next generation of Legends.