Peyton’s Journey: From Nitro-X Camper to SCTCC Auto Body Student

Growing up in the Holdingford/Rice area, Peyton was always surrounded by family members who worked in the auto body industry, but it wasn’t until he attended the Nitro-X Summer Camp at St. Cloud Technical and Community College (SCTCC) that he began to see a future for himself in auto body work. As a sixth-grader with a passion for remote-controlled cars, Peyton signed up for Nitro-X to drive some new RC cars and have fun with friends. Little did he know that this camp would be the start of a journey that would lead him to enroll in SCTCC’s Auto Body program.

One of Peyton’s favorite memories from Nitro-X was race day. “They had different skill classes for the race, and I got first place in the A class. It was pretty fun!” he recalls. He also remembers the supportive instructors who were willing to jump in and help whenever needed, making the experience even better.

At camp, Peyton got his first taste of painting with a spray gun while working on RC cars—a moment that really stood out to him. He loved the hands-on learning and the chance to try something completely new. Though his dad and uncle both worked in the auto body industry and even went through the same SCTCC program, Peyton hadn’t been particularly interested until Nitro-X.

After the camp, his interest in cars evolved. “I’d been working on small engines like motorcycles and snowmobiles, but Nitro-X got me more involved with actual cars,” Peyton shares. “I started getting more interested in learning how they work and tinkering with them.”

Through high school, Peyton took both small and large engines classes, including a unique course where they restored tractors. When it came time to choose a career path, it was a toss-up between automotive and auto body. But with encouragement from his family—and the knowledge he’d gained from Nitro-X—Peyton decided to give auto body a try. “I thought it’d be kind of fun because I have  a couple of older cars at home, and now I can learn how to fix them myself,” he says.

If it wasn’t for the camp, I might have chosen a different path—maybe even becoming an electrician.

Reflecting on Nitro-X’s impact, Peyton is certain he wouldn’t have pursued auto body without the camp experience. “Before that, I’d never seen the auto body side or what it really entails,” he explains. “If it wasn’t for the camp, I might have chosen a different path—maybe even becoming an electrician.”

Nitro-X not only introduced Peyton to auto body work but also showed him the growing opportunities in the transportation industry. “They let us explore all three areas—automotive, auto body, and big trucks. I heard there’s a bigger need for people in the field, and I figured if there’s a need, I’d like to help fill it.”

Thanks to Nitro-X and his family’s guidance, Peyton is now on his way to a fulfilling career in auto body, continuing the family legacy and gaining the skills to work on his own cars along the way.

Photos from Peyton’s time at camp

About Nitro-X

Nitro-X camps are designed for middle or high school students and are hosted by Minnesota State Colleges and Minnesota High Schools. This camp offers students the opportunity to explore careers in transportation through hands-on activities with radio controlled (RC) cars. This includes learning about how vehicles work, building their confidence with technical skills, working in teams to develop life and employability skills, gaining exposure to industry and showing off their RC skills with a race.

• Learn more about Nitro-X
• Follow Nitro-X on Facebook
• Visit the Nitro-X YouTube Channel
• Learn more about SCTCC’s Auto Body Program​