Kendric Jones

Design Engineering Mechanical

For as long as he can remember, Kendric Jones has been enamored with machines. That love came from working on cars with his dad while he was growing up and has now continued into his college education.

Jones said his dad did body, chassis, and engine work and they would frequently do it together. They also worked on a lot of racing cars.

“It fascinated me and got me interested in doing a lot of hands-on work,” Jones said. “I wanted to see how I could evolve what he did into what I like to do.

“My dream has always been to make my own things and he just pushed me to do it.”

That interest in hands-on work is what led Jones to the design engineering mechanical program at Delaware Tech. Jones specifically chose this major so he would not only receive the hands-on training, but also gain experience in the computer-aided design (CAD) side of engineering.

“To be able to use that here is great,” Jones said. “I love the opportunity to use both my hands and technology to create things.”

Being at Delaware Tech has helped Jones become more comfortable making friends and being in unfamiliar situations. He liked the idea of staying close to home, but going to class on the first day still made him anxious. He said his first day and his first math class with instructor Kathy Vezmar is what helped him feel more comfortable on campus. 

“She wanted to get to know us all personally and broke things down so we were more comfortable in her class,” Jones said. “It made me realize college isn’t that bad and even though it can be a little stressful, when you manage your time and understand you have the support of instructors it can be a joy to come to class.”

After graduation, Jones said he is looking for a career in either mechanical engineering or mechatronics. But he isn’t done working on cars with his dad just yet.

“My dad and I have been talking about trying to make a hydrogen-electric car that more efficient and less weight,” he said. “It would be a nice thing to start doing to see if we can accomplish it.”