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<\/a><\/p>\nACC auto tech student Kelly Anderson works on a car during class at the ACC Round Rock campus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
With more than 1.2 billion cars in the world, and 263 million in the United States, automotive technicians are in high demand. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt amazes me how little most of us know about how a vehicle actually functions despite cars being such a common and vital part of global society,\u201d says Kelly Anderson, ACC Automotive Technology student. \u201cUnderstanding how each automobile systems works individually and as a whole, and then being able to troubleshoot and repair these systems to get a vehicle running properly is a fun and exciting challenge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n After serving 21 years in the U.S. Army, Anderson enrolled at ACC and began pursuing a degree in Automotive Technology.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy instructors have provided excellent instruction both in the classroom and in the shop,\u201d she says. \u201cThey have also given me the mentorship I need. The extra time and effort the automotive faculty are willing to give their students in order to help them succeed has far exceeded my expectations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n ACC auto tech professor James Latham, blue shirt, and students during class at the ACC Round Rock campus in October 2017.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Students in the program also get hands-on experience with industry experts. Beginning spring 2018, ACC will offer additional career certifications through a new partnership with Honda\/Acura. The Honda Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT) program provides students hands-on experience with vehicle maintenance, diagnostics, and repair. The two-year program includes 10 unique Honda and Acura certifications taught by Honda-certified instructors, and the ability to earn at least two Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis experience, paired with my automotive technology education, gives me a solid foundation from which to build as I pursue my goal of becoming an automotive service technician,\u201d she says. Anderson has already taken advantage of the industry training through a part-time job with Honda.<\/span><\/p>\n After Anderson graduates in December 2017, she aspires to work for a non-profit organization that provides no\/low-cost repairs and maintenance to those in need. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTransportation is vital to our society and I believe the lack of reliable transportation can be a huge factor in a person being able to maintain steady employment,\u201d she says. <\/span><\/p>\n For more information about the PACT program or ACC\u2019s Automotive Technology Department, contact department chair Mike Shoebroek, at <\/span>mshoebro@austincc.edu<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With more than 1.2 billion cars in the world, and 263 million in the United States, automotive technicians are in high demand. \u201cIt amazes me how little most of us know about how a vehicle … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n