From Classroom to Career: How One Student Turned an Interest in STEM Into a Manufacturing Career

When Alicia Lopez was in fifth grade, she attended an engineering event for girls where representatives from Toyota Texas introduced students to careers in manufacturing. It was the first time she saw how science, technology, and problem-solving could lead to a career.

That early exposure stayed with her through middle school and high school, where she pursued STEM classes and engineering coursework at CAST STEM High School, graduating as valedictorian.

For Alicia, that spark of curiosity became a launchpad—and her story points to a broader opportunity for San Antonians. Careers in advanced manufacturing offer a chance to put STEM skills to work, solve real-world problems and keep learning while earning a paycheck. Her path shows what can happen when students see manufacturing not just as a job, but as a future they can build.

Finding a Path

While Lopez was still in high school, former Toyota Group Leader Maurice Salazar visited CAST STEM to introduce students to the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Academy (ATMA), an eight-week internship that gives students hands-on exposure to advanced manufacturing careers.

While Lopez had continued her STEM-focused education, she was interested but unsure whether to apply.

"I was having second guesses of whether I should go for it or not," Lopez said. "One of the students who had already done the program told me, 'Just go for it.' They said it was life changing."

She applied, was accepted and spent eight weeks learning about manufacturing careers, technical roles and operations inside Toyota Texas.

"Once I went through that internship, I knew this was what I really wanted to do," she said.

That internship experience led Lopez to apply for Toyota's Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program after high school. The program is part of a broader workforce-development model that helps prepare students for in-demand technical careers across the manufacturing sector. Participants combine classroom instruction with hands-on industry experience while earning a paycheck and working toward an associate degree.

As the program's distinguished graduate, she traveled to a conference hosted by the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME), a national workforce-development network that connects students, educators and manufacturers around advanced manufacturing training and career opportunities.

Choosing a Different Route

As valedictorian of CAST STEM High School, Lopez had plenty of options after graduation. She felt that there was an expectation that she would continue her education at a four-year university.

Instead, she chose a path that let her continue learning while gaining experience in the field she wanted to pursue.

"I could have gone to a university," Lopez said. "But this was what I wanted to do. I had the passion for it and the motivation for it."

Through the AMT program, Lopez worked toward an associate degree through Alamo Colleges while developing technical skills alongside 19 fellow students who shared her drive to succeed in manufacturing. The combination of education and hands-on training gave her an opportunity to build experience while preparing for a long-term career. That foundation allowed her to achieve an important milestone at an early age: purchasing her first home at 20 years old.

Today, Lopez is a Skilled Team Member on Toyota's Assembly Pilot Team. She recently joined Toyota full time after completing the AMT program, moving from student to professional in the industry she first encountered as a child.

Supporting the Production Line

On Toyota's Assembly Pilot Team, Lopez helps troubleshoot equipment and supports the systems that keep production moving. With a new vehicle rolling off the Toyota Texas assembly line every 60 seconds, this work requires technical knowledge, flexibility, and the ability to respond when problems arise.

"Production is our customer," Lopez said. "If production has an issue with their equipment, they can't do their jobs. That's where we step in."

The move from AMT student to Toyota team member gave Lopez a chance to put her training into action. Lopez was surprised to join the Assembly Pilot Team as a new hire rather than production line support. She was told her work as an AMT student helped open the door, giving her an opportunity to apply her technical skills and project experience while continuing to learn.

"You can have a whole plan for the day," she added. "Then something changes and now you have a major issue to solve. There is always something exciting to do."

The job also continues to teach her the value of asking questions. During a robotics project in the AMT program, Lopez wasn't sure how part of the system worked, so she pushed herself to ask experienced team members for help.

"I was nervous," she said. "But everyone was willing to help. I learned something new, and it helped our team finish the project."

Advice for the Next Generation

Looking back, Lopez can trace her career path through people who encouraged her to try something new: a teacher who encouraged her to join a STEM program, a Toyota leader who introduced her to the internship, and fellow students who urged her to apply.

Now, she hopes other students will take similar chances, even if they're unsure that they're ready.

"Go for it," Lopez said. "You might think you're not smart enough, or that you don't know enough, but every opportunity you don't take is a missed opportunity."

Building the Manufacturing Workforce

Lopez's path—from an engineering event in elementary school to a Toyota internship, technical training and a full-time job—shows how early exposure and hands-on learning can help students discover a career they might not otherwise have considered.

Her experience also reflects the role employers and education partners play in preparing Greater San Antonio's workforce. Toyota has been part of the region's manufacturing industry for decades, and its investments in training and student opportunities help connect local talent with careers in a growing sector. Programs such as ATMA and AMT give students ways to explore the industry, develop skills and continue their education while gaining practical experience.

As advanced manufacturing continues to evolve, those connections will remain important, for companies seeking skilled workers, and for students looking for opportunities to learn, earn and build careers close to home.