Interest in the automotive industry is, for some students, a future career. Automotive Collision class teaches students practical skills, including metal working, car painting, Bondo working and structural welding.
“It’s all practical. It’s all stuff that you would use in the industry,” senior Josh Mireles. “It’s all stuff you use in the real world.”
One highlight of the year has been receiving the CREF grant for $5,000. The money from the Collision Repair Education Foundation was used to buy new toners for the students to use when painting.
“They’re putting new technology in the course,” explained Jeff Wilson, who teaches the class. “It’s bringing them to the standards of new technology.”
This year has had a few setbacks, however, with some machinery not working. Because the air compressors in the booth are down, the class is not able to paint car parts. After getting it fixed in January, it broke down again only a few weeks later. Painting is a large part of the class curriculum, so in the meantime, students have been working towards the I-CAR certification, which can help students get jobs in the industry after graduation.
This certification can count towards the district’s new CCMR requirements, and teacher Jeff Wilson expects this will help grow the program. Industry-based certifications are a factor in the district’s new push to get every student ready for college, career, or military, and because the class offered such a certification, there has been a renewed interest.
“The students have asked more questions since [CCMR requirements] have come about,” said Wilson. “They pay a little bit more attention to it.”
After taking the Automotive Basics course, students can take the Auto Collision class at KPark or choose from Automotive Technology courses at KHS and AHS. The introductory class is more computer and theory work, while subsequent courses are more experience and practice based.
For many students, taking the Auto Collision course is a first step towards a career in the industry. The I-CAR certification can help when looking for jobs in the automotive industry, and some students, like junior Jacob Reyes, are planning on going to trade school as well.
“I’ll be ahead of the class because they’re learning some of the things and steps we take in this class when we work on parts of cars that need to be fixed,” said Reyes.
