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14 | Transportation Today Wisconsin™ Online Edition: www.transportationtodaywi.com

The Ahnapee Diesel Center and Ahnapee Automotive Program

quality instruction and fully equipped, pro- school, they may choose to ladder into an
fessional-quality toolboxes, along with the associate degree in automotive technology or
new facilities. Almost all of the students in a two-year technical diploma as an automo-
the diesel program have been placed in the tive technician.
Ahnapee Youth Apprenticeship program “One of the themes that we have heard
with our partner businesses. We believe that loudly and clearly from our community, our
the L-C diesel program will be a win-win for business leaders in the transportation indus-
our students and the local business commu- try and from the college is that there is a
nity.” huge need to produce highly trained automo-
tive technicians, and that those technicians
The Ahnapee Automotive Program can earn lucrative salaries in a very broad
The Luxemburg-Casco School District market,” says Luxemburg-Casco District
also hosts another educational initiative — Superintendent Glenn Schlender. “Because
the Ahnapee Automotive program. of that messaging, we created the Ahnapee
Students are provided with the oppor- Automotive program. “The district believes
tunity to earn college credits while also in the importance of providing L-C students
receiving credit towards high school gradu- with a wide range of educational choices.
ation. This program is designed for those students
Through successful completion of the with a mechanical aptitude, who enjoy diag-
Automotive Maintenance Technician (AMT) nosing and solving automotive challenges.”
curriculum, students attain a one-year techni- To receive the one-year AMT technical
cal diploma. Following graduation from high diploma, students must complete 26 credits
Luxemburg-Casco School District in courses such as Transportation Service
Located in the district’s former middle Operations, Auto Service Operations, Brake
school building on Church Street in Casco, Systems, Steering & Suspension Systems,
the Ahnapee Diesel Center houses the first Intro to Electrical Systems, Engine Repair,
credit-bearing, diesel-only high school edu- Engine Performance, Advanced Chassis
cation program in Wisconsin and is one of Systems and Transportation Welding.
roughly 20 such programs nationwide. “We couldn’t have done this without
Its facility features a 4,200-square- the help of the many great partners who
foot main instructional area, along with a stepped forward,” says Mike Snowberry, the
1,000-square-foot classroom space. The district’s director of learning services who
project converted the one-time Art and Wood is spearheading the program. “One of the
Shop areas of the former Luxemburg-Casco things that I tell people is, if you invest in us
Middle School into the diesel center. The dis- we’re going to invest back in you. One of my
trict’s middle school moved to the main L-C passions is that I’m going to try to find you
campus at the start of the 2020–21 academic the best people I can in our school system
year. Among the significant modifications that love turning wrenches. What gets me
within the 4,200-square-foot main instruc- excited every day is helping students to find
tional area were the lowering of the concrete their purpose.”
garage floor by 2 feet to accommodate a
full size semi-truck cab, enlargement of the www.luxcasco.k12.wi.us
front overhead door to 18 feet, creation of
a new exterior ramp, the addition of a rear
overhead door to facilitate entry of smaller Hydraulic/Pneumatic Systems, and Engine
diesel equipment, enhanced exhaust systems Sub-Systems.
and ductwork to adequately distribute air and Upon graduation from high school,
mitigate contaminants, attachment of interior students can choose to pursue a technical
and exterior catch basins, and upgraded elec- diploma as a Diesel Heavy Equipment Tech-
trical outlets to support safe operations. nician or a Diesel Medium & Heavy Truck
Ahnapee Diesel is a consortium of area Technician. Associate degrees in either
high schools: Luxemburg-Casco, Denmark, Diesel Heavy Equipment Technology or
Algoma and Kewaunee. Students in their Diesel Medium & Heavy Truck Technology
junior and senior years are given the oppor- also are possible student pathways.
tunity to earn college credits while also Strong support from area companies
receiving credit towards high school gradu- and the regional transportation industry
ation. have been a catalyst in getting the Ahnapee
With successful completion of the Diesel program off the ground. “With the
college’s Diesel Maintenance Technician help of many area companies who have been
(DMT) curriculum while in high school, stu- willing to form strong partnerships with L-C,
dents attain a one-year technical diploma. we are able to create a workspace mirror-
The required 26 credits include courses such ing that of a professional diesel mechanic,”
as Transportation Welding 1 & 2, Diesel says Mike Snowberry, the district’s direc-
Lab Operations, Intro to Diesel Mechanics, tor of learning services who is guiding the
Intro to Electrical Systems, Diesel Heavy program’s creation. “Our students will have
Duty Electrical 1 & 2, Chassis Sub-Systems,