Building Futures: Meet Our John Deere TECH Program Students
Your senior year of high school can be a whirlwind of emotions. It’s a time of “lasts”—last homecoming, last prom, last time walking your school’s halls as a student. But even more importantly, it’s the beginning of so many exciting “firsts.” First steps into adulthood. First major decisions about your future. First time choosing your own path. Whether that means jumping into the workforce, enrolling in a university, attending a community college, learning a skilled trade, traveling, or landing an internship, you get to choose your next “first.”
At Coastline Equipment, we know just how pivotal this moment is. That’s why we’re proud to support young adults at this critical turning point in their lives, especially those with a passion for working with their hands, learning technical skills, and being a part of something that keeps our communities running. For ten outstanding graduating seniors, that future starts now, with their acceptance into our 2025–2027 John Deere Tech Program.
A Career in Construction & Heavy Equipment: The Smart Choice for Future Technicians
The demand for skilled workers in the construction and forestry industries continues to grow nationwide. With infrastructure investments increasing and technology advancing, service technicians are more important than ever. These highly trained professionals are the backbone of the industry. They diagnose and repair heavy equipment, ensure uptime, and support job sites that power everything from new buildings to roadways and green energy projects.
A career as a John Deere-certified service technician offers financial stability, cutting-edge technology, hands-on work, and opportunities for growth. And for high school students who enjoy mechanics, problem-solving, or simply working outdoors, it’s a career path that turns passion into purpose.
What Is the John Deere Tech Program?
The John Deere Tech Program is a two-year associate-level degree offered at select accredited colleges across the country. Coastline Equipment partners with Linn-Benton Community College in Lebanon, Oregon, to provide students with a unique, world-class education that blends classroom instruction with real-world experience.
Here’s what makes this program exceptional:
Accredited two-year Associate’s degree in Diesel Technology with a focus on John Deere equipment.
Hands-on training with the latest in construction, agricultural, and forestry machinery.
Tuition Reimbursement for our sponsored students who make a standard GPA
A clear path to employment at Coastline Equipment as a certified service technician after graduation.
Transferable credits for those interested in pursuing a four-year college degree in the future.
This is more than just a student program. It’s a career launchpad that sets students on a solid path in the construction equipment field, where demand for qualified technicians is high and job security is strong.
Meet the Coastline Equipment John Deere Tech Cohort
We’re thrilled to announce that we have four 2025 graduating students, six 2026 graduating students, and ten 2027 graduating students who will start this fall! These students have demonstrated exceptional work ethic, passion for machinery, and a strong desire to grow within the construction equipment field. Handpicked from local high schools in Southern California, Las Vegas, and Idaho, they stood out among their peers and showed a genuine drive to succeed as future John Deere service technicians.
Our selection process is competitive and thorough. Every year, our branch managers and service managers visit high schools in our service regions. During these visits, we give engaging presentations about the heavy equipment industry, showcase the types of machines we work on, and explain how a career as a technician can be a lucrative and fulfilling choice.
Many students don’t realize how vast and high-tech the world of construction equipment really is. Our presentations open eyes and doors.
Investing in the Workforce of Tomorrow
At Coastline Equipment, we see ourselves as more than a dealership. We are an integral part of the construction and forestry industry and a strong partner in local economic development. One of our top priorities is building a skilled, knowledgeable, and passionate workforce that will sustain this industry for decades to come.
That’s why we invest in programs like the John Deere Tech Program. It’s more than just sponsorship; it’s a long-term commitment to our communities, customers, and employees. We believe the future is built by those who are willing to get their hands dirty, who take pride in solving problems, and who are eager to learn every day.
By supporting student programs like this, we’re not only preparing the next generation of technicians, we’re building a better future for everyone who relies on John Deere machinery and the people who keep it running.
Why Become a John Deere Service Technician?
The benefits of becoming a John Deere service technician extend far beyond a steady paycheck. Here are just a few of the many reasons why high school graduates (and even career-changers) should consider this field:
High job demand – The skilled labor shortage means service technicians are in constant demand.
Competitive salaries – Technicians can earn well above the national average depending on location, experience, and certifications.
Opportunities for growth – From entry-level tech to shop foreman to service manager, there are clear career pathways.
Latest technology – Today’s equipment is packed with smart tech like GPS, telematics, and diagnostics software.
Pride in your work – Service technicians keep the country moving—literally.
Partnering With Colleges to Empower Students
The partnership between Coastline Equipment, John Deere, and Linn-Benton Community College is an example of what happens when industry leaders and educational institutions work together for the benefit of students. This collaboration ensures that students get both the academic foundation and the practical, real-world experience needed to hit the ground running after graduation.
By the time our sponsored students finish the two-year program, they don’t just have a degree, they have valuable field experience, a deep understanding of John Deere systems, and a guaranteed job offer with Coastline Equipment.
This model is not only effective, but it’s inspiring. It shows how powerful it is when an industry and education align.
Coastline Equipment: Supporting Students, Supporting Communities
Supporting students isn't just good for business, it's the right thing to do. Many of our current senior technicians started their careers through student programs like this one. They’ve gone on to become mentors, trainers, and leaders in their departments. Watching their growth is proof of the long-term success that comes from investing in people early on.
For us, sponsoring these students is about more than filling roles. It’s about creating opportunity, stability, and purpose for young people who might not have seen themselves in a traditional college path.
We believe education should be hands-on, skills-based, and connected to real outcomes. That’s why we’re proud to be part of a growing movement that encourages students to consider careers in the trades, especially as construction, forestry, and equipment service remain the backbone of America’s economy.
Looking to the Future
As we welcome these six new students into the John Deere Tech Program, we are reminded of the potential that exists in every high school classroom. All it takes is someone to open the door, to show what’s possible with the right tools, the right training, and the right team behind you.
To our new Coastline Equipment John Deere Tech recipients: We’re so proud of you. You’ve taken the first steps toward a meaningful, challenging, and rewarding career. We’re excited to watch you grow, learn, and lead.
And to students who may be considering their next steps: If you’re curious about the world of heavy equipment, diesel technology, or service technician work, reach out to us. The John Deere Tech Program might just be the beginning of the rest of your career.
Learn More
Are you or someone you know interested in becoming a John Deere service technician? Want to learn more about our student sponsorships or job opportunities at Coastline Equipment?
Visit our Tech Program page or our Careers page to see what openings we have.
