Patterson High School – Patterson, California
Instructor: Dave Dein
Victor Calderon has been named the Next Generation in Trucking Student of the Month for October! Victor is part of the innovative truck driving program at Patterson High School — one of the first high schools in the nation to offer commercial driving education.
🚛 Student Spotlight
What inspired you to pursue a career in trucking?
My dad inspired me because he is a truck dispatcher, so I always see a lot of trucks and know some of the drivers.
What has been your favorite part of the program so far?
My favorite part is being able to get training that others can’t with the simulator. I feel like that’s a big advantage for us because it allows us to train in any scenario or condition.
What advice would you give to other students thinking about joining this program?
Don’t come in thinking it’s just another class. Be prepared to learn, see, and hear a lot of new things about the trucking industry.
How do you see trucking fitting into your future career goals?
I can see myself either driving a truck right after high school or working in a warehouse and continuing to work with trucks.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in this program?
I’m most proud of being chosen as the Next Gen Trucking Student of the Month!
👨🏫 Teacher Spotlight: Dave Dein
Patterson High School Truck Driving Instructor
Tell us about your program and why you wanted to teach it.
I’m very proud that Patterson High School is one of the first in the U.S. to offer truck driving. It’s critical that we create more programs that set young adults up for success at an earlier age — and the Next Gen model provides schools with the support and curriculum they need, free of charge.
Why did you nominate Victor as the Student of the Month?
The first thing that stood out about Victor was his infectious positive attitude. Every day he greets me with a big smile, a firm handshake, and a great attitude. His dedication to learning sets him apart — he comes ready to learn and is fully engaged every single day.What do you think about the next generation of students you’re training?
There are a lot of misconceptions about Gen Z and what they value. What I’ve learned is they’re no different than the rest of us — they want purpose, belonging, and opportunities to grow. Those are the same reasons I fell in love with the trucking industry over 30 years ago.