PTC automotive technology program ranked top in the southeast
June 23, 2009
Tomorrow’s Technician magazine and Chicago Pneumatic have named Piedmont Technical College as the top automotive technology program in the southeast and the Tomorrow’s Technician/Chicago Pneumatic 2009 School of the Year runner-up.
Piedmont Tech was selected from more than 170 applications nominating more than 80 schools. Applications from instructors, principals, department chairs and students touted a variety of specialized training programs. These distinctive programs and specialized training opportunities provide students with defining skills as they enter the work force following graduation.
“To be the school of the year for the southeast shows the effort we are putting into the education of our students and illustrates the quality of our graduates,” said Mike Rodgers, instructor/coordinator for the Automotive Technology program. “We have to be the best so our students can be the best.”
Programs were judged based on such aspects as enrollment, curriculum, instructors, placement rates, improvement, community involvement and recruiting, to name a few.
“The Cobra projects and our annual summer camp were two factors that worked in our favor,” said Grayson Jefferies, instructor. “They were clear demonstrations of thinking outside of the box.”
As one of the three finalists, Piedmont Tech’s automotive program received $5,000 worth of Chicago Pneumatic tools. PTC’s program was in excellent company. Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, whose automotive program has more than 1000 students and is one of only eight BMW training centers in the country, was selected as the winner with the other two finalists being Shoreline Community College in Seattle and Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colorado.
“It’s exciting that a company like Chicago Pneumatic has partnered with us to recognize these top automotive schools,” said Beth Skove, associate publisher of Tomorrow’s Technician. “Many of these schools incorporate innovative training programs to prepare their students to be the future leaders of the industry; these young men and women will be influencers in the shop and will help take the automotive aftermarket to the next level.”
For more information on the Automotive Technology program, contact Rodgers at (864) 941-8468 or rodgers.m@ptc.edu This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Jefferies at (864) 941-8498 or jefferies.g@ptc.edu This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
