LISA AVERY: The longstanding
relationship with our industry
partners, so that students can
get internship, apprenticeship,
and hands-on learning, is
what really sets us apart.
SCOTT MORGAN: It makes
us more relevant.
We are really trying to be the
program that our industry needs.
KAREN PAEZ: Our program
maintains very close connections
with industry, which helps them to
address the innovations and growth
and development in the fields.
SCOTT MORGAN: We work
with our administration.
We let them know what's going on.
We make sure that we are out
they're involved in the community
and make sure we build
those connections.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MARGARET RAGAN: PCC is very
great about participating
in industry-related events.
They host quarterly
portfolio reviews
where industry comes into
interview students that
are graduating from the program to
give them experience interviewing,
as well as to help
place them in positions.
And in many cases, these students
are getting hired through this,
so it's actually a good job
placement program that they're
participating in as well.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
LISA AVERY: One of the ways that we
address innovation in the industry
is to make sure students have
a lot of hands-on practice.
One of the best things that
we have is really the car
is part of the classroom
in our program.
DEVON NEWBY: In every class
and every step of the way,
we get to work on vehicles
in various different aspects
from working on brakes to
steering and suspension to HVAC
and working on AC units.
LISA AVERY: It runs a
lot like a real shop.
ALLEN DYE: We've got school
vehicles, about 60 of them
that the students work on.
As they go along
through the program,
they will start working
on customer vehicles.
RUSS JONES: They get real world
experience fixing actual cars.
And all of that activity
is the exact same thing
they'll do when they
become that working
technician on their first job.
DEVON NEWBY: It feels
really great to be
able to work on these projects
and know that I can do them.
It's very empowering
to start from having
a basic knowledge about
vehicles too like really having
in-depth knowledge and
just the skill set to do it
and the support system
with my instructors
to be able to push forward.
LISA AVERY: The industry
is changing day-by-day,
and so we want to make sure that
we're preparing students now
with skills that are
transferable even
if there are new
technologies and new fuels
as they enter the job market.
JASON JETTE: We can give you
those base essentials that
will make it to
where, no matter what
the technology is, you will know
at the core how that system works.
You're going to be confident in
facing those new technologies.
RUSS JONES: Our
automotive program has
been very successful in funding
through the school because
of the completion rate and how
successful our students are.
LISA AVERY: We've
committed to this program
by being creative
with the way that we
leverage our resources
to provide equipment
that will be current for students.
RUSS JONES: We're supported both
by the industry and our school
and other organizations
that we're a part of.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAREN PAEZ: I firmly
believe that what
makes this program special is our
faculty, our instructional support
staff, and our students.
They are an incredible
group of people
who create a culture of
community, learning, fun.
MARGARET RAGAN: The staff is
what really makes the difference.
These instructors really
care about their students.
They really care about the industry.
They all continue to
reeducate themselves
and stay on top of the information.
BART OUCHIDA: All of our
instructors in our program
are always trying to make the
program better and more interesting
and more relevant for students.
SCOTT MORGAN: We love being
here, and we love teaching.
Our purpose is to be here
to help our students.
And so everything we do
revolves around that.
And we just become
kind of a big family,
and that's what makes us so special.
TIFFANY NEIL: Every
instructor here has
taken extra time out of
their day after school
to instruct me, take extra time
to show me how to do things.
JASON JETTE: I think
that is something
that sets this program apart is
that extra effort that gets put
in by every person in this staff.
SCOTT MORGAN: We want to
make sure the industry has
who they need to
fill their job roles,
and we want to make sure our
students, more than anything else,
have everything, all
the tools they can
have to be successful in industry.
Our industry needs new technicians.
And so, if a student wants to
have a job in some capacity,
it doesn't matter what, if
they want it, they can get it.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
