THe Texas
summer TransporTaTIon InsTITuTe
aT Texas a&m unIversITY provIdes educaTIonal programs
THaT encourage mInorITY HIgH scHool sTudenTs To
explore TransporTaTIon careers.
Logistics. The Transportation Systems/ occupation by earning college credit Tech Prep
Infrastructure Planning, Management, and while still in high school. Anita Steele, Similarly, partnerships in the College
Regulation program of study includes such coordinator of cooperative education Tech Prep program let students start their
electives as Introduction to Transportation programs for Texas State Technical College collegiate course of study in high school
Careers and International Business. (TSTC) in Waco, is an expert in creating and finish it at a community college. Tech
More technical programs of study, programs that make this possible. Prep students have a high school graduation
such as Facility and Mobile Equipment “I work to form ‘articulation agreements’ plan that includes a sequence of two or
Maintenance, feature classes such as between TSTC and secondary schools, more career courses for three or more
Aircraft Mechanics and Diesel Mechanics. where a student can come to TSTC and credits. At least one of these career courses
“In addition to the many career-specific earn credit for classes they have taken must be eligible for college credit through
electives offered by school districts,” Cagle in high school,” Steele says. articulation or dual credit.
says, “students should also consider courses “It saves money in the long run because That means, if a student’s plan is to earn
in communications, electronics, and world students are in school a shorter amount a two-year associate’s degree in automotive
geography.” of time.” technologies in college, he or she could get
For example, in agreements between a head start on that major by taking Auto
Early College Credit TSTC and local high schools, Steele says, Tech I, II, and III in high school as part of
Some students in Texas have the the automotive classes that students take the Tech Prep program.
opportunity to pursue a college degree in earn college credit toward an associate’s
a Transportation, Distribution & Logistics degree or certificate of completion at TSTC.
S P O T L I G H T
MAkING A NAME foR ItSELf
The Paris high Auto Tech Program Wins National recognition
P
aris High school in paris, Texas, The paris auto Tech program has approximately
boasts an award-winning automotive 50 students. most students spend about two hours
Technologies program. a day in class, but, as contest time nears, the most rarely complete the certification in high school,
In 2006, paris High school auto Tech dedicated return to the school at 6 p.m. and often they are fully prepared for certification once they
competitors were the skillsusa Texas state stay as late as 11 p.m. have met the work experience requirements.
champions in the auto service and power scholarships awarded by the ford/aaa schmidt believes that careers in automotive
equipment competitive events and placed third competition made the effort worthwhile for service can benefit a student, whether a student
in diesel equipment. In June 2006, paris seniors the two national champions. “both got full wins competitions or not. “It’s really a field
bradley bolton and aaron clay became the ford/ scholarships,” says schmidt. “That’s why I try to that pays off,” he says. “There are so many
aaa student auto skills national champions. This motivate and encourage my students.” opportunities with auto tech. a student can be
competition tests students’ written knowledge and paris auto Tech also helps all interested a mechanic, a service tech, a teacher, and a
hands-on skills in auto repair. students prepare for certification testing. “we lot more.”
asked the secret to his program’s success, work toward ase [national Institute for automotive To learn more about the ford/aaa student
paris High school’s automotive Technologies service excellence] certification,” says schmidt. auto skills competition, visit www.autoskills.com.
instructor michael schmidt replied, “There’s no ase certifications require at least two years of To get more information on skillsusa, visit www.
secret. we just worked really hard.” employment experience, so, although students txskillsusa.org.
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