Meet Our Jules “J.” & Sally Heumann Scholar: Wyatt Miceli
December 1, 2020
Wyatt Miceli, who hails from Northern California, considered only one option — a degree in automotive restoration from McPherson College in Kansas — when he began to think about college.
“I didn’t believe an ‘ordinary’ degree was worth my time,” he said. “I wanted to create a unique path that would excite me, challenge me, and allow me to gain valuable, hands-on field experience in the automotive industry simultaneously.”
Wyatt says he doesn’t come from a “car family” — and he thinks that allows him to respect, enjoy, research, and scrutinize all marques more equally.
“My goal is to be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of many, focused on gaining new knowledge, experience, and insight within the automotive arena,” he said. “The automotive world is extremely diverse and dense in content. While I am passionate about vintage automobiles, in order to remain relevant in today’s world, I strive to develop knowledge on numerous eras and aspects of vehicles.”
Wyatt, now a Junior at McPherson, is part of the team of students working to restore the college’s 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet with the goal of showing it at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. He committed nearly 1,500 hours this past year helping restore the car’s engine, transmission, front suspension, and similar drivetrain components, along with completing a significant amount of body and paint restoration.
In keeping with his varied interests in the automotive world, Wyatt has also participated in many other organizations across campus. He is a member of the C.A.R.S. Club, the automotive restoration student organization at McPherson College. He has served as head judge for the college’s annual car show and currently serves as co-chair of the event. He is a writing tutor. And he is training to get a real estate license for California.
“I truly have many interests, passions, and desires — and I am developing, chasing, and managing them all,” he said. “In the end, my passion for the automobile has always and will remain a constant source of interest and excitement throughout my life.”