instruction,” said Jim Zach. “Otherwise, Travis works well with other students, is eager to learn, and makes teaching easy for us.”

“Travis shows a lot of confidence. He’s taken an active role in his family’s farm since he was very young,” added Edd Carlson.

A 1993 graduate of Calamus Wheatland High School, Travis entered Kirkwood with definite goals. He grew up on a farm of approximately 2,000 acres that has been in the Davisson family for more than 100 years. When his grandfather retires, Travis plans to be part of the farm operation. He has always enjoyed repairing the machinery, cars, and the truck they use to haul corn. Travis chose Kirkwood because it offered the program he wanted, with smaller class sizes, and because the campus is close to home.

In the classroom and on the truck driving range, Laurie Weaver serves as Travis’ interpreter. This is her first assignment in a technical setting. “I basically knew the difference between a wrench and a pair of pliers! So, I had to read texts and ask a lot of questions about how things work. But the instructors and students have made this a fun experience for me.” It has also been somewhat hazardous - like the time Travis unexpectedly braked the Kirkwood 18-wheeler and sent Laurie flying.

Because he relies on his other senses, Travis taught his driving instructor, Clarence Ruby, to pay attention to the truck’s vibrations in a similar way. Truck driving also required Travis and Laurie to invent some new signs for “throttle” and “clutch.”

“He has a sixth sense when it comes to driving,” says Brad Swyers, head of the Kirkwood truck driving program. “He knows to ask before he proceeds, and he stops, analyzes a problem, and knows when to come and ask an instructor.”

As instructor Doug Hankwitz sums up: “Everything works well when the student fits so well.”

(Winter 1995)