Pioneer PROfiles - Jalon Rainey

Jalon Rainey (Buffalo, NY) is eager to fuel his future with hands-on experience and a deep love for cars at Alfred State. 

Choosing to become an Automotive Service Technician major at Alfred State was an easy decision for Jalon. “I chose Alfred State because I wanted to be somewhat close to home and I also wanted to work on multiple different brands instead of just one.”

Jalon Rainey's PioneerPROfile video

He has been drawn to cars since an early age. “I came from a bigger family, my mom had six of us, and all my other siblings were into sports, and I could not really find a sport that suited me. But cars were just always something that interested me.” 

Jalon is enthusiastic about the hands-on learning opportunities Alfred State offers, and he values the structure of his classes, where he first learns the theory in the classroom and then applies it directly in the shop.  

“The professors here are wonderful. From learning in lecture what you’re going to be doing for that day, or the next day, it’s amazing, and then coming right down into the shop and applying it directly.” 

Jalon enjoys getting the chance to work on his own vehicle. “The best part of the major is probably having your own vehicle and being able to do whatever little upgrades or whatever work you need to do on it. It is all experience, educational-wise. The only thing we are paying for is the parts, but labor-wise it is all on you.” 

Looking ahead, Jalon is confident that his studies will lead to a successful and long-lasting career in the automotive field. “This is a great field to be in; this is going to take you very far in life, and you’re going to always have something to work on. Whether it’s automotive, diesel, or small engines, you are always going to be able to apply this somewhere in your life." 

Alfred State’s automotive program is undoubtedly the driving force behind Jalon’s bright future in the industry.