Teaching Automotive Technicians

Recently, six people descended on a parking lot at Gateway Community College in North Haven and stood before nine perfectly running 2012 Ford Mustangs. These people, myself included, then proceeded to replace good parts with bad parts and to break some of the cars' electrical connections. In all, 10 bugs were introduced in each of the Mustangs, which were on loan from Hertz.

We were preparing the cars for the annual Ford-AAA Auto Skills statewide competition to be held the next day on May 12. The contest challenges high school students taking automotive technology courses to make auto repairs in a timed competition.

Nine teams of two students each had their chance to fix nine identically bugged Mustangs. The winners would receive scholarships, tools and glory. The competing teams were chosen based on written tests administered earlier in the year.

Each team received a work order outlining customer complaints and 90 minutes to find all the problems. The winners, Bobby Tardif of Baltic and Shane Wawrzynowicz of Canterbury, were seniors at Norwich Technical High School. Tardif and Wawrzynowicz will compete in the national finals in Dearborn, Mich. on June 12-14, accompanied by their instructor Robert Hany.

The competition is a chance for automotive students to take their training from the workshop to the real world says Laurence Eiden, technical competition manager for Connecticut. "We still need to maintain and repair cars that are now more complex," Eiden says.

For Wawrzynowicz, going from a shop environment to a timed competition was the most challenging aspect of the contest. "We got a Ford Mustang two-and-a-half days before to practice on," Wawrzynowicz says. "I'm super excited," he said after winning.

He says his and Tardif's skills complement each other. "Bobby's really good on computers. I'm better at the mechanicals. My grandfather owns a salvage yard."

Tardif shared his excitement, taking pride in having solved "some really challenging bugs." Second-place honors went to Nicholas Varrone and Christian Glover of W.F. Kaynor Technical High School in Waterbury. Their instructor is Dave Emmons. The team of Dan Halpin and Ryan Scussell from Howell Cheney Technical High School in Manchester placed third. Their instructor was David Morello.

For the first time, an award was given to the individual and the team that did best on the written qualifying test. The individual winner was Eric Manley of Platt Technical High School in Milford. Manley and fellow team member David Patston received the team award for their cumulative performance on the written test.

Gateway Community College's registration for a Sustainable Future ...

Gateway Community College’s registration for summer classes began on April 1, 2011. For those of you who have been waiting to register for any of the classes in our attached summer schedule, you may register now. Please note the reduction in fees for attending their two solar offerings. 

For Those Interested in NABCEP Entry-Level Testing:

Forty hours in class are required to be eligible to sit for the NABCEP entry-level exam. These requirements may be satisfied by registering for Advanced PV Solar Battery Systems and Grid-Free PV: Solar PV Battery Systems: Installation, Operations, and Repair–both being offered now.

Advanced Solar PV Design and Applications

This class will begin on April 8, 2011-a change in schedule of one week. To register for this course, students will need to demonstrate successful completion of PV training (either NABCEP-approved or manufacturer based) or provide documentation of PV-related field experience and understanding of solar fundamentals.

If you do not have a certificate of attendance from having attended a previous class, please call the Center for a Sustainable Future to make arrangements to take a short quiz to demonstrate your knowledge. Entrance into the advanced class will be made through the permission of the instructor.

Contact for more course information: Gail Burrington, email: solaredge@yahoo.com

Gateway Community College

CENTER FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Green Training Programs in Energy and Sustainability

Summer 2011

NOTE: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

Courses offered through open enrollment and contract training.

Gateway Community College has been moving forward this year with the design and construction of a “hands-on” photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal (ST) lab with supporting funds provided by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and the Northeast Photovoltaic Training Network at Hudson Valley Community College. Watch for a “ribbon cutting” ceremony as soon Protection Agency’s Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Program.

CRN:  2240                          4/29 – 6/17, 2011

Day:                                      Fridays: (No Class May 27)

Time:                                    10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Headquarters Army Civilian Personnel System: HQ ACPERS Data Element Dictionary, December 2000

Two-Year Colleges 2011

The Blue book of college athletics for senior, junior & community colleges

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