May 30, 2008
The Tennessee Technology Center-Newbern’s Automotive  Program was honored this week as runner-up for the "Tomorrow’s Technician  School of the Year" award from Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. and Babox  Publications.    

Thomas Pelette, Eastern  Manager of the CP North America Customer Center, presented the award in  person on Thursday morning to TTC-Newbern automotive instructor Jim  Stafford and his students in the automotive shop.

Pelette congratulated  students, faculty and community members for local support of the program  and delivered the school’s prize of $2,000 worth of tools directly to the  students.  

"This is a great accomplishment for this school," said Pelette. "It  shows a lot about the program. It is very well deserved. (Your school)  competed with schools out there with four to five times the number of  graduates you have. But, we were not looking at quantity, we were looking  at the quality of the graduates."  

PC is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of  high-performance aftermarket tools, accessories and compressors. Babox  Publications is the publisher of T2, a trade magazine dedicated to the  education of future technicians.  

The partnership between the two companies was built from a mutual  desire to assist in the education of young technicians and to recognize  the efforts of teachers, students and schools nationwide.  

"Babcox and Tomorrow’s Technician share Chicago Pneumatic’s dedication  to technical training and safety," said Beth Skove, associate publisher at  Babcox in a recent press release.

"Through this process we’ve had the  chance to learn about the great programs at more than 170 schools across  the country, strengthening our already robust belief in the quality of  technician education."  

"Finishing in the top 17 would have put you in the top 10 percent of  graduates in the country," Pelette told students in the Newbern program on  Thursday. "The top four puts you in the top two percent. I want to  congratulate everyone here."

"Just to remind you of how important you are,  the program that put the man on the moon in 1969-the computer program that  ran that mission-was less sophisticated than the computer in today’s  vehicles. That shows you how important it is, the work that you do."  

TTC-Newbern officials were aware that the program landed in the top  four, but were pleasantly surprised to learn that the program ranked  second in the competition.  

"This is news (to us,)" said Stafford at the presentation. "We knew we  were in the top four, but we didn’t know we were second place. All of this is due to the students."  

At the  presentation, TTC-Newbern was awarded the plaque, tools, and shirts, hats,  pens and other items commemorating their achievement.  

"TTC Newbern may be considered as a small rural institution by some,  but we never stop thinking big for the betterment of our students," said  Stafford in the press release. "We feel privileged to be listed among the  top schools in the nation. The administration and students really  appreciate the recognition of their hard work from Chicago Pneumatic and  Tomorrow’s Technician."  

Working with both secondary and postsecondary students, TTC Newbern’s  program is designed to prepare individuals for a career in today’s  high-tech automotive repair industry. The automotive program at  TTC-Newbern is the first and only postsecondary school in the state with  an Automotive Youth Educational System (AYES) program. The school is also  one of only four in the state to offer Ford Motor Company Maintenance and  Light Repair training and certification.  

Currently, TTC-Newbern is one of only 10 technical schools in the U.S,  in partnership with Girl Scouts of America, to receive a grant from the  U.S. Department of Labor/Bridgestone Tire to teach teen girls responsible  car ownership and operation.  

Through a partnership with Dyersburg State Community College,  TTC-Newbern graduates may choose to continue their education with credits  transferring toward an associate’s degree.  

At the presentation, Pelette reported that first place School of the  Year was awarded to Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Ill. The other finalist schools were North  Central Technical Skills Center in Wenatchee, Wash. and the Sultana High  School Automotive Tech Program in Hesperia, Calif.

Source: State Gazette   (Dyersburg, Tenn.)  http://www.stategazette.com

Photo by Vanessa Cain