Auto shop students show off new facility
| A wheel alignment machine was purchased with grant money for the shop. |
The Emery High Auto Shop class held an open house on Aug. 23 to show off their newly expanded facility. Visitors toured the facility and were also treated to hot dogs and drinks. Automotive technology teacher, Mike Kava said, “The construction class built the addition for us last spring and we completed the painting during the summer. We had help from the school maintenance department, Mrs. Kava and one of the students, Steven Jensen came in and helped with the painting. The school board and Gwen Callahan, school principal, have been really supportive of the work we’re doing here at the high school. The construction class really did a good job and we appreciate the work they did.
“With the expanded shop we have a new alignment machine which was purchased with grant money. Students also work on their own vehicles as well as the Toyota Tacoma which was donated to the program by Weber State University. We also offer night classes for adults. We are currently certified for five of the eight national certifications. We are certified in brakes, suspension and alignment, electrical, engine performance and air conditioning.
“Students are also able to receive college credit at the College of Eastern Utah for the classes they take here. We operate through the Southeast Applied Technology College,” said Kava.
The mission of the Southeast ATC is to provide training for high school and adult students, displaced workers and unemployed individuals in Southeastern Utah for employment in skilled and semi-skilled jobs; to provide on the job training leading to higher proficiency and retention, or placement in skilled craft jobs; assist students in receiving the most benefit from their applied technology instruction.
The Utah College of Applied Technology consists of 10 regional applied technology colleges throughout the state of Utah. They offer training programs, both short and long term in diesel mechanics, precision machine tooling, practical nursing, cosmetology, computer-aided drafting, dental assistance, welding, computer use and programming and construction trades. There are also several other programs and specifically designed training, custom fit for a broad base of employers.
In the future, competency-based high school and associate degrees will be offered. UCAT is charged with ensuring that high school students have access to applied technology education, and in tailoring programs to the specific needs of each region of the state. In performing these responsibilities, the regional technology colleges cooperate with local school districts and other higher education institutions.
The goal of the Southeast ATC is to help both the citizens and businesses of Southeastern Utah attain the skills necessary to compete in the global markets of today and tomorrow. They recognize continuing education and training is an essential part of competing in local job markets and in the international economy of today’s complex world. ATC’s offer programs to help individuals enter career fields as well as upgrade skills of those in existing employment. The Custom Fit Programs also helps businesses train and upgrade the skills of their employees.
Kava said, “Our program helps prepare the students for a job in the real world. Mechanics is now a very complicated profession. They learn how to use all of the machines in detecting problems and a lot of procedures are computerized now. ”