Dylaney Franz Finds Her Calling Under the Hood

A concurrent enrollment student from Windsor Charter Academy, Dylaney took more Aims courses than high school ones, earning her Associate of Science, Liberal Arts in 2020. She received straight A’s and was awarded summa cum laude status at Aims before she even received her high school diploma.

At the time, Dylaney’s sights were set on the brain. “I initially wanted to go into neuroscience and maybe become a neurosurgeon,” she said. She enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado as a pre-med biology major and threw herself into the challenging coursework. But despite her aptitude, something didn’t feel right. “I loved the subject matter, but I just knew I wasn’t where I was meant to be.”

That intuition would become a recurring compass in Dylaney’s journey.

A New Direction

After leaving UNC, Dylaney shifted to Western Governors University, where she completed both her Bachelor of Business Administration and MBA online while working full-time. Her studies in business and human resources led to a consulting role, where she helped a real estate firm design an employee incentive program, complete with a hand-illustrated guidebook that she created herself.

The project was a success, but that familiar tug returned once again. “I just felt like it wasn’t where I was supposed to be,” Dylaney reflected.

Meanwhile, an old truck in her garage had quietly been steering her toward her true path. “Automotive has always been at the back of my mind. I just didn’t grow up doing it,” she said. Between classes and work, Dylaney had been restoring a 1968 Ford F-100 pickup. “At first it was just a hobby,” she said. “I learned about it, the more I got into it.”

That truck became her rolling classroom. Every stuck bolt, every mystery noise, every small victory added fuel to her interest in the field. It’s where she taught herself the basics long before stepping into the Aims automotive lab. After working on it  for a while, she realized,” I needed to give this a real shot.”

In January 2023, Dylaney enrolled in the Master Automobile Service Technology program. What started as a tentative experiment quickly became a calling. “I started out knowing pretty much next to nothing about automotive at all,” she said. Within two weeks of her first semester, she landed a full-time job at a repair shop. She began working nine or ten hours a day before heading to night classes on the Aims Windsor Campus.

“It’s a physical and mental challenge like nothing I’ve experienced,” she admitted. “But Aims makes it worth it. The instructors are amazing, the tuition is affordable and the environment makes you want to keep showing up.”

Dylaney really likes that the theoretical knowledge and real-world experience really supplement each other. “You can’t learn this trade with just one or the other. “Aims helped me understand systems from both a theoretical and hands-on perspective,” she recalled. “That background is what gets you through the weird diagnostic stuff.” She enjoyed the engine performance class, where she learned the inner workings of an automobile. “Figuring out how to disable a car taught me more than trying to fix one.

One of the things she likes most about working on vehicles is that every day is different. 

“It’s something new every day. Even if it’s a repair you’ve done a million times, it never goes back together the same way twice.”

Aims has given her the knowledge and support to thrive.  “I’m just really thankful for Aims,” Dylaney said. “For the instructors, for the night classes that make it possible for people like me to keep learning and for creating a great place for all of us to grow.”

Her dedication paid off. By the end of the program, Dylaney had earned four National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications and was named Technician of the Month at Weld County Garage. She moved to the Truck City location, which specializes in all heavy-duty applications, from motorhomes to big rigs. Dylaney is now working at Truck City full-time, gaining experience in the industry. 

More Than Mechanics

Dylaney’s long-term goal is to own her own automotive business, ideally a customization and restoration shop that blends creativity with mechanical skill. “Eventually, it would be cool to open my own shop,  more of a customization type place than just a general repair shop.”

Her vision for that shop stems from her own experience restoring her truck. That project ignited her passion for the artistic side of automotive work, tailoring vehicles for both performance and aesthetic appeal.  

For Dylaney, the automotive field isn’t just about engines and systems; it’s about solving complex problems and constantly learning. “I’ve definitely grown a lot both as a person and in my automotive knowledge coming to Aims,” she said. “It’s given me experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

She’s in no rush, though. Dylaney takes a practical, grounded approach. “Down the road, I’ll assess where I’m at, what I’ve learned, and figure out what I want to do with that, as opposed to having a set deadline.”

In December 2025, Dylaney will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Master Automobile Service Technology.  In the short term, she will continue working in the industry and pursue additional ASE certifications. 

Dylan is on the road to success with her mix of discipline, curiosity, creativity, business acumen and automotive knowledge; she’s on track to go far.