Automotive News/Press

November 2, 2020

Cerritos College Brings Mercedes-Benz to Automotive Curriculum - MB Campus Program

Cerritos College's Automotive Import Technician Training Program (ITTP) recently received an E300 sedan donated by Mercedes-Benz USA. In addition to the E300, Mercedes-Benz USA also donated a diagnostic tool that gives students access to web-based training materials for Mercedes-Benz technicians. Both donations will be used by the students for valuable hands-on training. 

Since 2019, Cerritos College has been a participant in Mercedes-Benz USA’s MB Campus program, which helps train students who aspire to become Mercedes-Benz Registered Technicians. The MB Campus program at Cerritos College is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim. The College is the only automotive program in Southern California to offer MB Campus as part of its curriculum.

Service and Parts Director Mike Dehdashti and Shop Foreman Dan Smith from Mercedes- Benz of Anaheim presented the vehicle to the College's Automotive Instructor Leonard Glick.

“This is a great opportunity for our automotive students to learn about Mercedes-Benz with the possibility of future employment opportunities at one of its dealerships,” said Leonard Glick, ITTP Coordinator. “We are very appreciative of Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim and Mercedes-Benz USA for their generous donation and their support for our students.”

The ITTP is a two-year automotive program designed to upgrade the technical competency and professionalism of entry-level dealership technicians. Its curriculum is designed collaboratively between various automakers and Cerritos College. The ITTP involves not only attending classroom lectures and laboratories on import products at the college, but also requires the student to gain work experience during their course of study at an import auto dealership. For more information about the ITTP and the MB Campus program, please contact Leonard Glick, ITTP coordinator at lglick@cerritos.edu

 View November 2, 2020 Campus Connection

October 23, 2020

Automotive Department offers Auto 155 - Medium/Heavy-Duty Brake Systems
Auto 155 - Medium/Heavy-Duty Brake System

The Auto 155 course will introduce the student to the fundamentals and principles of pneumatic braking systems as they relate to transportation and medium/heavy duty trucks. Applications of air-powered brakes will be explored, as well as the design and operation of pneumatic circuits and systems in the laboratory.

October 23, 2017 

Subaru Donates Three Vehicles To Automotive Import Technician Training Program

The Automotive Import Technician Training Program recently received three vehicles donated by Subaru of America . Two 2015 Impreza WRXs and a 2016 Impreza WRX will be used for valuable hands-on training.

Subaru’s Los Angeles Zone Director Joel Zimmerman, District Parts & Services Manager Frank Ceccacci, and North American Subaru’s Senior Field Investigator Don Heck presented the vehicles to the College.

The car company has been a long-time supporter of Cerritos College. Subaru donated scholarship funds for auto students in 2010 and 2012, a high performance engine from the 2009 film Fast and Furious 4 in 2011, nine engines in 2015, and eight high-performance engines in 2016.

“These students are the future of our industry where qualified technicians are much needed,” said Ceccacci. We are pleased to assist students in advancing their automotive education and becoming a skilled professional.”

"Our students can learn the latest technology with these donated vehicles," said Leonard Glick, instructor in the College's Import Technician Training program. "We appreciate Subaru’s consistent support of our automotive students.” 

Cerritos College is also part of Subaru’s education partnership program Subaru-U  that combines the resources of the company and select secondary and post-secondary schools to provide knowledge of Subaru vehicles and systems and prepare students for possible future employment at Subaru retailers nationwide.

The Import Technician Training program is a two-year automotive program designed to upgrade the technical competency and professionalism of entry-level dealership technicians. Curriculum is designed collaboratively between various auto corporations and Cerritos College. The program involves not only attending classroom lectures and laboratories on import products at the college, but also requires the student to gain simultaneous work experience as a student at an import auto dealership.

View October 23 2017 Campus Connection

 

October 4, 2017

Hunter Engineering Donates Tire Mounting Machine To Cerritos College’s Automotive Program

Donated tire changer on display

NORWALK, Calif. – October 4, 2017 – Cerritos College's Automotive Technology Program recently received a state-of-the-art tire changer donated by Hunter Engineering Company.

The nearly $10,000 machine is a center-clamp tire changer that provides quick and easy tire change, featuring a leverless mount head and blast inflation.

The donated equipment will be utilized in all of the brake and suspension classes.

"The machine will get a lot of use and is a very valuable piece of training equipment," said Leonard Glick, instructor in the College's Import Technician Training program. " Hunter has a very large share of the suspension and tire service equipment industry and it's common to see Hunter equipment in repair shops and car dealerships. Having students train on Hunter equipment gives them added confidence when they walk into a shop and see familiar equipment. We are thankful to Hunter Engineering for its continued support to our automotive program.”

About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 23,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at https://www.cerritos.edu/.

View October 2017 Release

 

June 29, 2016

Subaru Donates High Performance Engines for Import Technician Training Program

  

NORWALK, Calif. – June 29, 2016 – Cerritos College's Automotive Import Technician Training Program recently received eight engines donated by Subaru of America. The 2.0 turbo engines from the 2015 WRX will be used for valuable hands-on training.

Subaru’s District Parts & Services Manager Frank Ceccacci, Field Service Engineer Don Heck, and Field Quality Assurance Manager Jim Sciolla presented the engines to the College's Automotive Instructor Leonard Glick.

The car company has been a long-time supporter of Cerritos College. It also donated scholarship funds for auto students in 2010 and 2012, a high performance engine from the 2009 film Fast and Furious 4 in 2011, and nine engines in 2015.

Cerritos College became part of Subaru’s new education partnership program Subaru-U that combines the resources of the company and select National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation/Automotive Youth Educational Systems accredited secondary and post-secondary schools to provide knowledge of Subaru vehicles and systems and prepare students for possible future employment at Subaru retailers nationwide. “Cerritos College is the only community college selected for Subaru-U in Southern California,” said Sciolla. "We are pleased to support future automotive technicians and professionals at Cerritos College.”

"Our students can learn the latest technology with these high-performance engines," said Glick, instructor in the College's Import Technician Training program. "We appreciate Subaru’s consistent support of our automotive students.”

The Import Technician Training program is a two-year automotive program designed to upgrade the technical competency and professionalism of entry-level dealership technicians. Curriculum is designed collaboratively between various auto corporations and Cerritos College. The program involves not only attending classroom lectures and laboratories on import products at the college, but also requires the student to gain simultaneous work experience as a student at an import auto dealership.

View June 2016 News Release

  

May 2, 2016

Automotive Technology Department Gets Gray Corvette from General Motors

 Cerritos Automotive Technology Department Gets Corvette from GM 

General Motors donated a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette to the Cerritos College Automotive Technology Program. The vehicle came from Win Chevrolet in Carson and will be part of Cerritos College's General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) program, a two-year automotive program designed to upgrade the technical competency and professionalism of the dealership technician. The curriculum is designed by GM and Cerritos College, and leads to an associate degree.

“The 2014 Corvette is not only a head turner but also features the latest technology that students in our GM ASEP program need to master in the lab,” said Joe Mulleary, automotive mechanical repair instructor. “Automotive technology is a great field for students who prefer hands-on application type of work in addition to using critical thinking to figure out solutions. There is a significant shortage industry wide right now with older technicians retiring and the repair work cannot be outsourced.”

The next GM ASEP program starts on October 17 and is still accepting applications. Apply online at https://www.cerritos.edu/auto/asep.htm, or call (562) 860-2451 ext. 3084 for more information.

View May 2, 2016 News Release

  

April 2016

Cerritos College Automotive Program Mentioned in Motor Magazine

d Motor Magazine Trade Secrets

 

Trade Secrets. Written by: Bob Cerullo

"I had been there many times over the years and even tried some government-sponsored entry-level training programs; they didn’t work for me. In an effort to find an answer for my reader, I contacted several automotive technical training schools and asked them for their ideas.


I hit the really big ones and the small ones. One of the first schools I contacted was Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA, because they were recommended to me by a reader named Rusty Okimoto who runs Rusty’s Automotive there. Rusty’s is a very busy shop with a large, loyal clientele. Rusty is a graduate of the Cerritos automotive program (www.cerritos.edu) and spoke very highly of it. Rusty’s participates in their program by allowing students to go to school for half the day and work in Rusty’s shop the rest of the time.


I spoke with Kevin Taylor, chairman of the Cerritos automotive department. Taylor explained how the Cerritos program works closely with domestic and import car manufacturers to provide the kind of training its students need to be good techs ready to work on a wide variety of vehicles. He said Cerritos closely follows the guidelines set up by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).


NATEF (www.natef.org) was founded in 1983 to improve the quality of automotive technician training programs at secondary and postsecondary, public and proprietary schools. I spoke with Trish Serratore, who is the president of NATEF and incredibly knowledgeable about technician education. Serratore said their recommendation is that potential employers get involved with their schools. That could be their local high school or community college. She recommends they get involved as much or as little as they feel their business can handle. At a minimum, Serratore advises, shop owners should try to get on the advisory committee of the school.”

Our Automotive Program was featured in the April 2016 issue of Motor Magazine. Read full the article here: MOTOR Magazine: Trade Secrets

 

February 16, 2016

Cerritos College Gains Audi Education Partnership and New 2016 Q3 to Enhance Student Learning

 Automotive ITTP pictured with 2016 Q3 donated by Audi 

The Automotive Import Technician Training Program (ITTP) recently received a new 2016 Q3 donated by Audi of America. The College also signed an agreement with Audi of America to join the Audi Education Partnership Program, which aims to attract skilled technicians to Audi dealerships. Under the program, Audi will provide the College with technical information, web-based training, vehicles, tools, and equipment all related to Audi brand products to support student training.

To kick off the partnership, 15 representatives from Audi’s corporate office and dealerships visited the ITTP students on February 4. Students had an opportunity to hear from the representatives about the company, employment opportunities, and career possibilities in automotive.

The students in ITTP are required to work more than 1,000 hours in a shop or dealership. This work experience applies to the units the students need for their certificate.

“Our relationship with Audi will greatly increase the chances of a student working in an Audi dealership while attending classes at Cerritos College,” said Leonard Glick, instructor in the College's Import Technician Training program. “As a benefit to the dealer, the student will be exposed to Audi products and procedures while in the automotive training program. This is a great opportunity for our students, Audi of America, its dealers, and the College. We’re very excited about the program and we’re looking forward to a long and productive relationship.”

The partnership was featured in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on February 14. Read the article here: Cerritos College, Audi partner for student training program

View Press-Telegram's News Release

 

January 11, 2016

Automotive Students Receive SMCDA Scholarship

 SMCDA awards automotive students with scholarship 

Southland Motor Car Dealer Association presented five Cerritos College students with scholarships. The students received cash, scholarships to Northwood, and one received a tool box (pictured). The funds were raised from the 2015 SMCDA Scholarship Golf Tournament. Save the date for this year's tournament which will be on July 18.

 

November 9, 2015

General Motors and Automotive Department Donate Corvette to Southeast ROP Auto Program at Norwalk High School

 Cerritos Automotive Program Donates Corvette to Southeast ROP Program 

General Motors and Cerritos College are jointly donating a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette to Southeast Regional Occupational Program’s Automotive Program at Norwalk High School. The vehicle was originally donated by General Motors to the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) program at Cerritos College several years ago.

“We, along with the support of General Motors, feel it is important for high school students to be introduced to the technology on late model vehicles before entering the post-secondary level,” said Joe Mulleary, automotive mechanical repair instructor. General Motors has been a long-time supporter of the GM ASEP program at Cerritos College. The automaker has generously donated vehicles to the Cerritos College Automotive Department for its ASEP program for many years.

View November 9, 2015 News Release

  

August 17, 2015

Subaru Donates Engines for Import Technician Training Program

Subaru Donates Engine to ITTP  

Subaru reps, instructor and students with donated engines The Automotive Import Technician Training Program recently received nine engines donated by Subaru of America.

Subaru has been a long-time supporter of Cerritos College. The car company’s Field Service Engineer Don Heck and Field Quality Assurance Manager Jim Sciolla presented the engines to the College's Automotive Instructor Leonard Glick.

Subaru also donated scholarship funds for auto students in 2010 and 2012, and a high performance engine from the 2009 film Fast and Furious 4 in 2011.

“We will be launching a partnership program with colleges and universities to support future automotive technicians and professionals,” said Sciolla. "We hope our successful partnership with Cerritos College becomes a model for the program."

“Students are the future of our industry,” echoed Heck. “We are pleased to support Cerritos College’s automotive students advancing their education.”

"High-performance engines such as these are crucial in providing our students with hands-on training in the latest technology," said Glick, instructor in the College's Import Technician Training program. "With each new training part and vehicle, our students develop further expertise and marketability in the industry. We appreciate Subaru’s consistent support of our automotive program.”

The Import Technician Training program is a two-year automotive program designed to upgrade the technical competency and professionalism of entry-level dealership technicians. Curriculum is designed collaboratively between various auto corporations and Cerritos College. The program involves not only attending classroom lectures and laboratories on import products at the college, but also requires the student to gain simultaneous work experience as a student at an import auto dealership.

View August 17, 2015 News Release