Page 4 - TTWinter2022-2023

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

Beloit Memorial High School's Automotive Program is Racing Forward!

include work on fuel, emissions, heating them.” While we have good student enroll-
and air conditioning, transmissions, steer- ment numbers already, Guy is working to build
ing, and suspension systems. the level of interest in this field whereby we
dual credit options are currently available fill classes to capacity. “I’d like there to be a
through the local technical college and are in waiting list of interested students in the future”
the developing stages with a technical institute he stated.
and other local technical colleges. Multiple The facility is first-class, with eight full
industry certifications are also available as stu- size service bays, an adjoining classroom, and
dents progress through our Auto Technology demonstration learning room. Since the fall of
sequence, including ASE Entry Level certifi- 2007 our automotive shop has occupied the
cations and Snap-On Scanner certifications. former Sears Automotive Center in the Eclipse
Increased high school to college avenues and Center (former mall). We are fortunate to be
professional certification opportunities for stu- able to lease this classroom space from the prop-
dents are currently in the development stage. erty management company. The Automotive
The successful completion of the three Center is located directly across the rock river
Auto Technology courses will prepare students from the Beloit Memorial High School making
it accessible to any student taking these courses.

School District of Beloit pathway includes work-based learning oppor-
tunities such as job shadows, co-ops, and
Beloit Memorial High School's automo- Youth Apprenticeship (YA). The following
tive program is a NATEF certified program courses in the automotive sequence are open
which focuses on technical skills and has a to all high school students in grades 9–12 and
strong emphasis on the employability skills follow the 80/20 format of percent of time in
that our students need in order to be success- the shop to time in the classroom:
ful in the workforce, regardless of the career
path that they choose. New instructor, Guy Intro to Automotive Technology — an entry
olson is transforming a traditional auto- level course with an introduction to shop
motive program into an industry-modeled safety, shop operations, basic automotive
learning program. repairs, and careers in the automotive
Beloit Memorial is a Wall-to-Wall Career industry
Academy comprehensive high school. As Automotive Technology 1, 2, and 3 —
part of the PACMES (Public Safety, Automo- courses progress from fundamentals of
tive, Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, modern day automotive technical servic-
and Engineering academy), the Automotive ing to advanced engine performance that for an entry-level automotive technician posi-
tion. 10th grader Ash C. stated, “My plan is to It is an impressive facility by any standards!
take all four classes, earn certification, and then recent updates within the program
try to get a job at a dealership.” include a new tire balancer, new tire mounting
In addition to skill development in machine as well as vehicle diagnostic scanners.
automotive repairs on vehicles that serve as Planned for the start of the 2023-24 school year
learning modules, our instructor, Guy olsen, is a top of the line Snap-on Zues diagnostic
operates the program as a fully functional scanner that has intelligent diagnostics to inter-
automotive shop; every student isn’t going to face with diagnostic scanners in the industry
become a mechanic but may still be in the auto- through a nationwide network. The scanner
motive field. Students learn workforce skills also has bluetooth capabilities so the diagnos-
starting with a Point of Purchase and Service tic readings can be projected onto a classroom
Area where they create work orders, order screen so each student is involved in the learn-
parts, schedule and confirm service appoint- ing experience.
ments, track progress, complete and organize Future plans include painting the shop and
work order documentation, and demonstrate creating videos that brand our program BMHS
customer service skills as they work with Motor Sports and also showcasing the many
customers from the drop-off to pick-up of the opportunities our program offers. In looking
customer vehicle. This provides real-life learn- for ways to continually build the program, Guy
ing opportunities that prepare the students for is looking to add electric vehicle service and a
multiple jobs in the automotive repair industry. drag racing club (he is a drag racer in his spare
Carlos A., a 12th grader in Auto Tech- time) where students would work on the drag
nology 1, states that “This provides REAL cars during the school year and be a part of a
hands-on experience of what it is like to work drag racing team crew in the summer.
in a shop. We interact with the customers with
the whole process of ordering parts, working www.sdb.k12.wi.us
on their vehicle, and then delivering it to