Engineering Excitement

The Oakland Schools Technical Campuses (OSTC) and Oakland Community College (OCC) collaboration has launched the Oakland Technical Early College (OTEC) program. This pathway has significantly benefitted many students, including Pascal Klepser, a Rochester Adams High School attendee who joined OSTC-NE for Engineering, Robotics & Mechatronics. 

Klepser, through OTEC, earned 63 OCC credits and graduated with an Associate in Science and Associate in Arts Degrees from OCC at age 19, along with his high school diploma, achieving Magna Cum Laude status with a 3.83 GPA. He garnered multiple honors, including the OSTC’s Dean’s Award and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society membership.

Klepser's journey included passing Differential Equations, marking a significant academic achievement as the highest math course undertaken by any OTEC student in seven cohorts. His experiences extended beyond academia, earning a MEMCA Technical Certificate and gaining industry insights through job shadowing opportunities at Webasto Convertibles USA Inc. and Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America. 

Now at Michigan Technological University for Mechatronics Engineering, Klepser transferred 57 credits, propelling him closer to his goal of becoming an Automotive Engineer. His story underscores the value of early college programs in preparing students for university challenges and future careers.