Start Your Engines
May is always a busy month on the UAA Anchorage campus. Graduation season brings the excitement of the commencement and hooding ceremonies. But just across campus, another event is building its own tradition — one that is even louder. The Auto Diesel Expo has quickly become a signature gathering for the university’s automotive and diesel technology (ADT) program, drawing attention not only for its scale and energy, but for its role in connecting education, industry and community.
At its core, the expo serves as a showcase for the technical training offered at UAA. For many across Alaska, the existence of the ADT program is a surprise, including for applied technology leadership alumnus, diesel power technology assistant professor and expo co-founder Nathan Berry, A.A.S. ’20, B.S. ’20.
“I’ve always liked applied mathematics, but college just wasn’t for me at the time,” said Berry. “I tried aviation and engineering before I found out about the ADT program, and if there had been more opportunities to see programs like this, I would have done this right out of the gate. It fits my need to work with my hands, not sit in an office all day and feel like I’m giving some sort of value to my community.”
Together with technology alumnus and ADT chair Darrin Marshall, A.A.S. ’02, B.S. ’12, they conceived the event as a way to advertise the opportunities that exist in technical education and skilled trades, particularly in a state where workforce needs remain high. By opening the doors of the program’s facilities and inviting the public to engage directly with equipment, instructors and students, the expo transforms what might otherwise be an overlooked academic offering into a visible and experiential learning environment.
Beyond promotion, the expo also functions as a networking opportunity connecting ADT graduates and students with employers. Vendors from Alaska’s automotive, construction, transportation and energy sectors participate, often using the event as an informal recruitment platform. For some attendees, visiting a vendor booth has resulted in an immediate job offer.
Most importantly, the expo is a celebration of a broader love of vehicles and creativity. Organizers have increasingly tailored the event toward families and children by including hands-on demonstrations and youth-focused competitions. Recognizing the importance of early exposure to and encouragement of technical curiosity, the ultimate hope is to inspire a future technician, engineer or designer.
“What bugs me about car shows is that everything is shiny and cool but you have to tell your 4-year-old not to touch anything,” said Berry. “The fun thing about the expo is that everyone is going to encourage your kid to jump into the semi-truck, jump into the Corvette, and just hang out and take pictures. But it’s also to play the long game. The kid who’s interested in excavators is probably going to be more interested in them if he gets to play with them throughout his life.”
The idea for the Auto Diesel Expo came after a period of institutional uncertainty following a statewide budget reduction in 2019 that placed pressure on program enrollment. Despite limited resources and staffing, Berry and his colleagues leveraged existing professional connections, community support and volunteer participation to organize the first iteration of the event.
Gearing up for its fourth year, the community response to the expo has been overwhelmingly positive. Industry partners contribute equipment, expertise and time, often investing significant resources to participate in what remains a free public event. Their involvement reflects both the immediate workforce demand in Alaska and the recognition that sustained engagement with educational institutions is essential for long-term economic development. And for students, the expo provides a sense of pride and visibility, allowing them to demonstrate the real-world skills they developed in the program to family, friends and potential employers.
“We have a really diverse group of students that come through the program,” said Berry. “We have 18-year-olds to 70-year-olds. We have students bringing in their own cars to work on, but they also bring in snow machines, dirt bikes or lawn mowers. And the students are always very proud of what they do here. So when their family and friends show up, it’s pretty cool for them to see what they’ve been working on for the past year.”
Enrollment trends suggest that the expo may already be having an impact. Program participation has increased by roughly one-third since the event’s inception, though Berry acknowledges that additional outreach efforts contribute to this growth, like providing weekly tours and participating in career fairs. Nevertheless, the expo has significantly elevated public awareness of what was once a relatively hidden academic unit.