Chad Yingling, a South Whidbey High School graduate in 2009, graduated from WyoTech College in Laramie, Wyo. with a degree in diesel mechanics. Yingling received the degree on March 19, 2010.

Yingling attended WyoTech College on a full scholarship which he earned by placing third in the state at the Skills USA competition during his junior year in high school.

Yingling and his family would like to thank all the teachers of South Whidbey who encouraged and inspired him during his education. They are Marguerite Hauberg, Pam Muncey, Rachel Kizer, Kent Rateken, Steve Jones, Chad Felgar, Jay Fruendlich, James Bernhard, Steve Durbin, Jorn Aronson and Tom Kramer. A debt of gratitude also goes to Brent Delfel of the Sno-Isle Skills Center in Everett. A special thanks goes to Yingling’s mentors Donny Neil, Duran Ulrich, Ken Berry and Tim Economu.

And last, but not least, Yingling and his family owe their deepest gratitude to Yingling’s grandpa, W. Ivan Little, who has been the most influential person in his grandson’s life.