Students in the North Georgia Technical College Automotive Technology Program have a new learning experience waiting for them. On Thursday, June 11, Michael Emmett of Ed Murdock Superstores in Lavonia delivered a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck that will provide a variety of hands-on labs for students for many years.
“A vehicle like this is invaluable to us for teaching,” said NGTC Instructor Kevin McCurry. “We’ll use it in five different sections: Brakes, Steering and Suspension, Engine Points, Electrical, and possibly most importantly, Manual Drive Train and Axles.”
Each semester, students spend hours taking vehicles apart and putting them back together. “You can show them pictures and diagrams all day long, but it isn’t until they have a chance to get in there and feel the way tools work on the engine that it all fits together,” explained NGTC Instructor Stoney Farmer. “You would be surprised how much wear and tear those labs put on an engine.”
It has been several years since the Automotive Technology program has had a new vehicle to work with. In 2013, a Nissan Cube was added to the lab. Prior to that, Kia donated a Sorento in 2010.
“We really appreciate the support from industry for our program,” said McCurry. “The folks at Ed Murdock are great to work with, and our students were so excited that it was coming that they stayed late after class on the day of delivery.”
Both McCurry and Farmer note that it requires a variety of vehicles in different stages of the vehicle life cycle to adequately train tomorrow’s workforce. Whether it is a new car, a previously owned car, or equipment removed during warranty or other service, the Automotive Technology can put it to work, giving our students valuable opportunities to learn with their hands.
For more information on the NGTC Automotive Technology program, contact Kevin McCurry, [email protected], or Stoney Farmer, [email protected].
