The Power of Education!

PowerSport Institute graduates are prime examples of our strong commitment to education. Our alumni are valued family members, and we believe the value of your education should continue long after you graduate! With that in mind, we offer a range of online alumni services and programs for your benefit, including:

• Ongoing career assistance
• Continuing education/retraining opportunities
• Alumni events
• Alumni directory
• Success stories
• Alumni newsletter
• Discounts on popular events
• Other benefits

As an alumnus, we value your suggestions and your input. If you have ideas as to the types of programs and services you believe would be of most value, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you and know your thoughts. Please fill out the alumni form to receive a PSI Alumni Appreciation package, send us your updated information and begin using our alumni services today. If you would like Career Services to contact you regarding the employment of new graduates, please email us at alumni@psi-now.com. In the meantime, please check this page frequently for regular updates and feature enhancements. Thanks for your interest in PSI's alumni services!

 Please contact us as soon as possible by simply completing the Alumni Form.

Graduate Success Stories!

I have always raced and loved going to the races. I spent every weekend at the track. In ‘07 I was at an outdoor national and while going through the pits, I started talking to the driver at Warthog Racing and asked if they needed any help. He said “No” so I gave him my contact information and later that year I got a phone call. He said that I could help if I was still interested, but here was the catch. I would be doing it for free as an intern. I pay my own way, buy my own credentials, pay for my own hotel, gas and food. I help set up the canopy, tables and chairs, and set up the pit area for the crew and guests. I pull out all the bikes and put them on stands and set up workstations in between the bikes and toolboxes.

 

In ‘08 I was at the races talking to a Yamaha driver and asked them if they needed any help and it was the same routine. In May of ’09 I decided to attend PSI and fortunately found out that two PSI instructors that I met - Brian and Brandon - were going to be racing at a track 30 minutes from my house. I asked them if I could give them a helping hand and they said “Yes”. I was so pumped. Once again I did it for free, to get experience, and it was the same - show up at the track, set up a couple canopies, set up tables, toolboxes and hang out until practice and then that’s where the work begins. You might need to change gearing and nine times out of ten you will be changing tires due to track conditions.

 

In ‘09 my buddy, who I had raced with, was going to go do some Arenacross Series races. Since I raced Arenacross back in the day I thought I would go and see how things had changed. We loaded up the bikes, tools, tables, plastic fuel cans and hit the road. At the first round I was like, “Oh man the smell of race fuel, the sounds of the bikes… this is where I want to be.”  After I came back to reality, I unloaded everything and it was time to work, we set up our little pit area and got ready for the practice. Then in 2010 I was at the Arenacross with my buddy and I talked to the team manager from Babbitt’s and asked if he needed any help. I gave him all my contact information and told him about all my experience. As time went on and me still going to races every weekend, I came home one day and I had an email. I was so excited! I went to the next Arenacross race and networked a little bit, was introduced to the riders, taken into the team semi, shown around and Denny said I would be working with rider #16 Vikki Golden. 

 

I continue to offer help to other riders as well. While at the outdoor nationals the Team Manager for Rock River had me go help her friend, so I went and worked for Shelby Rolens, a women’s WMX rider. I changed clutches, tires, the filter and of course washed the bike, normal race day duties. With the 2011 season coming to an end I am off to offer help at some remaining rounds of Supercross, then Outdoor Nationals will be starting. In between Outdoors and Arenacross I will be doing some flat track too until Arenacross starts again.

 

If you are interested in doing this, go to the races. It costs you, but the payoff is worth it if you love racing. I think coming to PSI helped me because I got the training I needed to do the tasks and being able to troubleshoot and understand the bikes is very important. Before coming to PSI my bike would break. I would take it to a dealer and say fix it, then got a huge bill without understanding what they did. After graduating from PSI, I now have the understanding… not every answer, but the understanding of how to fix the problem.  Now I just pay for parts and the repair bill is small compared to before! Plus I make money doing what I love. All the instructors at PSI were great and are willing to help you be the best tech, if you apply yourself.  Andy helped me out so much I can’t thank him enough. PSI has been very supportive and allowed me to come back and get some additional help on some 2012 stuff and that has been a huge part of me being successful in my job today.

 

 

Below is Scott Thomas working for Babbitt's Race Team!

 

 

 Paul- Ferris - VT-04

 

Paul Ferris stopped into Motor Sports of Dayton to buy a Victory and left with a lot more than just a new ride! Being a repeat customer, he got to know the staff there and enjoyed the shop’s environment. In the beginning of April he applied and got the job!

 

He and one other technician maintain the work flow in the Service Department. The dealership did not have anyone as versed in Victory products before Paul came on board. Paul obtained his Bronze Level Certification and when it came time to get trained for Silver, the General Manager, Mark Pease, did his research and found that PowerSport Institute was the place to send Paul. When Mark asked Paul if he would travel to Cleveland to attend training at PSI Paul said “Of Course!” since Paul is a 2010 graduate. 

 

Paul said he really enjoyed coming back and that a lot of the information in the Silver Class was already covered throughout the Victory portion of the American V-Twin Program that he graduated from. The staff of PSI congratulates Paul on earning his Victory Silver MSD Recognition. We wish him much success and look forward to seeing him back on campus for future dealer classes!

 

Below is Paul Ferris in Polaris Dealer Class Room at PSI!

 

 

 

Bill Smith - VT-04

 

PSI Graduate Opened His Own Shop

 

Bill always wanted to open his own shop. He has been a motorcycle enthusiast for a long time and wanted more. After a bit of schooling and funding research he finally had the cash flow set up and made the decision to come to PSI.  We asked if the training he received was different than what he expected and he said "Ah, yes. I hadn't been in school since 1980 so I thought there was going to be more book work and home work but it was not a strenuous amount. It was enough to get you thinking and the core classes were cool. Once I got back into the V-Twin labs it was even better!

 

The instructor’s knowledge was un-real. I had known a lot from life but, it wasn't even comparable to what they knew. I was what you would call a "shade tree" until I came here. I learned the little things that you need to pay attention to, that you usually would not think about."