LAKEWOOD, Wash. – Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, Wash., was named the 2012 Tomorrow’s Technician School of the Year during a surprise award ceremony yesterday for students and instructors of the automotive program. WIX Filters and O’Reilly Auto Parts partnered with Tomorrow’s Technician as title sponsors for the national contest to find and name the best technician training school in the country.
“It is encouraging to see the students and faculty of Clover Park Technical College embrace how automotive technicians’ jobs are evolving as vehicles become more high-tech,” said Mike Harvey, brand manager for WIX Filters. “With today’s vehicles becoming more complex – from hybrids, electrics and advanced clean-diesel engines – auto technicians are being trained in new technologies. We are proud to support this program recognizing Clover Park as the best technical school in the country and look forward to the success of the school’s future technicians as they begin their careers as the next generation of technicians.”
Clover Park Technical College, the fifth-annual recipient of the national School of the Year award, received a $2,500 donation from WIX Filters; a package of O’Reilly and WIX Filters gear (hats, backpacks, shop banners, stools, product samples); 200-piece professional automotive tool set and $250 gift card, both from O’Reilly Auto Parts; and an appearance by Sarah Burgess, BMI Team owner and driver in the Xtreme Drift Circuit, with her 2013 Ford Mustang running the 5.0L Engine with a 2.9L Whipple Supercharger. In addition, the winning school’s instructor and a guest will travel to Las Vegas and attend a Babcox Media recognition dinner at the AAPEX trade show later this month.
“We have a long tradition of automotive training at Clover Park Technical College – our state-of-the-art facility paired with excellent instructors bring a wealth of experience and technical resources into the classroom for the students,” said Wayne Bridges, automotive technician instructor. “We have an incredible administration that supports our automotive program and understands it is essential to stay on top of changing technologies to succeed in this industry.
“Support from manufacturers and the aftermarket industry help fund quality programs for the next generation of automotive master mechanics,” he said. “The School of the Year award furthers our great reputation for outstanding automotive training, and we are honored to be the 2012 recipient.”
This year’s three runners-up are Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa.; Chipola College in Marianna, Fla.; and San Diego Continuing Education in San Diego. Each school will receive a 200-piece professional automotive tool set and $250 gift card, both from O’Reilly Auto Parts.
The 2012 contest received an increase in school entrants by 20 percent over last year. Of the 340 entrants nominated this year, 121 were from different high schools, technical schools and colleges. Also new this year, instructors were able to post videos on the Tomorrow’s Technician YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/tomorrowstechnician) highlighting their school’s automotive program.
Clover Park Technical College joins the honors of past School of the Year winners:
•Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colo. (2011);
•Caddo Career & Technology Center in Shreveport, La. (2010);
•Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, Ohio (2009); and
•Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Ill. (2008).
“We are very pleased to recognize Clover Park Technical College as the 2012 School of the Year,” said Jeff Stankard, publisher of Tomorrow’s Technician, a Babcox Media publication dedicated to automotive students. “We believe Clover Park’s instructors, staff and administrators are truly working hard to prepare their students to become the top-notch professionals this industry so deeply requires.”
The School of the Year program was open to all high schools or post-secondary schools that have a subscription to Tomorrow’s Technician. Each school nominated will receive national recognition on Tomorrow’s Technician’s website, as well as through social media outlets.
