“What I love most is fostering meaningful connections between my students, myself, and industry. The growth of these relationships is very rewarding as it lays the foundation for their future success.”
Chris Nielsen teaches Automotive Service and Repair at Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah. He was inspired to teach skilled trades after graduating from trade school with an education in transportation, automotive, diesel, and hot rod performance. Before taking the position at Olympus High School, he worked for Harper Excavation, training convicted felons who had served their time in automotive skills to help integrate them back into society. He also volunteered in the racing industry, serving on two different pit crews for land speed racing and testing and reviewing products for Overland Expo and General Motors.
In the classroom, Nielsen has a passion for creating a dynamic learning environment where students not only acquire essential skills but develop a deep appreciation for the automotive industry. He builds his curriculum around real-world problem solving and foundational automotive repair techniques to build students’ confidence, then expands their skills by introducing evolving technologies and theories from industry. Nielsen emphasizes thorough research, collaboration, peer-to-peer mentoring, and hands-on work to increase his students’ employability, skills they get to showcase at frequent competitions. He is committed to expanding access to quality skilled trades education across the state, sharing his program’s model and best practices with other automotive teachers through the New Car Dealers Association and Talent Ready Utah.
Notes of Excellence
- Nielsen worked with his administration to offer a girls-only automotive introduction class, which increased the enrollment of non-traditional students in his program and their pathway involvement at intermediate and advanced levels.
- Students in his program collectively earn over 1,000 industry-recognized certifications annually.
- His program consistently receives top placements in competitions hosted by SkillsUSA, Weber State University, and Ford AAA.