Community College Automotive Program recognized by DaimlerChrysler

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 12, 2004

NEVILLE ISLAND, PA.

The DaimlerChrysler Corp. has named Community College of Allegheny County a College Automotive Program (CAP) School of the Year in recognition of the college's commitment to excellence in automotive education and training.

The DaimlerChrysler CAP program, offered at CCAC's Technology Center on Neville Island, is one of the college's three dealer-sponsored automotive programs that balances academics with hands-on technical training. Through this curriculum, students train in eight-week rotations at both the college and sponsoring dealership.

"As the automotive industry evolves, there is literally a constant need for highly technical training in this field," said CCAC President Stewart Sutin. "Thanks to programs like CAP, CCAC can provide a current, state-of-the-art curriculum that ensures our graduates will excel in the workplace."

The award was announced during a three-day symposium held at DaimlerChrysler's National Technical Training Center in Auburn Hills, Mich. CCAC is one of three U.S. schools to receive the award. Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, and Oklahoma State University in Okmulgee, Okla., were the other two colleges selected.

"The Chrysler Group is proud to recognize the Community College of Allegheny County as their 2003 DaimlerChrysler's College Automotive Program School of the Year," said Rick Ciesla, senior manager of the DaimlerChrysler Academy School of Technical Training. "We look to CCAC's CAP Program as an integral part of our future providing technical specialists to our dealers to service and repair out technologically-advanced products."

Peter Riccardo, vocational educational coordinator for Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) and CAP for the DaimlerChrysler Academy School of Technical Training, said that CCAC was selected based on performance in 2003--including instructor training hours, program enrollment, graduate achievements, and the strength of its CAP program advisory board. He said CCAC has also been active in working with Pittsburgh-area AYES schools--high schools that offer automotive training to their students and provide CCAC with incoming freshmen.

Riccardo said CCAC is dedicated to producing quality automotive technicians, at a critical time when the demand for such professionals is great. The advanced electronic systems prevalent in today's vehicles require that automotive workers arm themselves with high-tech skills.

"Now is the time to effectively recruit, train and prepare tomorrow's specialists," Riccardo said. "One of DaimlerChrysler's key principles is 'remember as always, stick with a specialist.' CCAC is preparing those future specialists."

Thirty-five schools nationwide offer the CAP program. With only two CAP schools in Pennsylvania, CCAC serves a large geographic area including western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.