Automotive Career Education Day: A Great Success

Students check out a car during the Automotive Career Education Day.

As part of a national effort to educate students about career opportunities in the automotive industry, New England Institute of Technology's Automotive, Auto Body, and Marine Technology Departments offered the third annual Automotive Career Education Day at the Access Road Campus on October 24. Over three hundred students and fifty teachers from twenty-five area high schools attended.

Erin Flynn, Special Events Coordinator, and Christopher Bannister, Department Chair of Automotive, Auto Body and Marine Technology, coordinated the workshops for the students. Automotive Technology instructors provided presentations. Automotive and the Internet, offered by Michael Isabella, featured the new Smart Room technology. A demonstration on transmissions was offered by Arthur Testa. Virgil Tavares offered a session on emissions testing. In the alternate fuel vehicles workshop, Christopher Bannister highlighted compressed natural gas and electric vehicles. Ted Chamberlain presented the Marine Technology Department session. Auto body techniques were demonstrated by Manny Couto, with the help of New England Tech students.

Seekonk Speedway representatives brought in race cars and drivers. Dan Perry, a New England Tech faculty member who also races at Seekonk Speedway, was on hand to answer questions. Four representatives from Snap-On Tools presented students with the opportunity to view the tools used in the automotive, auto body, and marine industries.

The Career Day's highlight was an employer panel featuring Charles Klasman from BMW and Ed Staunch from Mercedes Benz. Both spoke to students about the needs and job requirements of their companies.