Celebrating 11 Years of the Hawai‘i High School Auto Academy

Special recognition ceremony this Friday at Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College
Contact:
Billie K T Lueder, (808) 845-9187
Communications & External Affairs, Chancellor's Office
Posted: Jul 17, 2014

The 2014 Auto Academy Summer Program Students.  Missing one of the eight.
The 2014 Auto Academy Summer Program Students. Missing one of the eight.
Hands on application and theory round out the curriculum.
Hands on application and theory round out the curriculum.

(Honolulu) – This Friday, eight high school students will be recognized in a special ceremony celebrating the completion of the 11th Hawai‘i High School Summer Auto Academy at Honolulu Community College.

July 18, 2014
11:00 am – 12:00 noon
Honolulu Community College’s Automotive Facility         
445 Kōkea Street (link to map)
Media inquiries to Billie Lueder at 295-2467.

The Auto Academy targets high school students interested in the automotive industry in which they participate in an unpaid internship at a Cutter dealership in the mornings, then attend classes at Honolulu CC in the afternoon, five days a week for six weeks to total 120 classroom hours.  Upon successful completion of the program the students will receive four college credits towards an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Automotive Technology.

“This program not only exposes high school students to the automotive industry, but it gives them a unique opportunity to experience a college level learning environment," explains Honolulu CC Chancellor Erika Lacro. "We are teaching them transferable skills that will translate in any workplace.” 

This year’s academy consist of eight students from Aiea, Leilehua, McKinley, and Waipahu.  Six students are high school graduates, and two will be returning for their senior year. 

“The six high school graduates will be attending post-secondary education here in Hawai‘i," says Automotive Instructor Warren Takata.  "One is enrolled at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and the other five are enrolled here at Honolulu Community College declaring their majors in automotive technology. I look forward to having these students in our automotive program."

The innovative summer program began as a collaborative partnership between Honolulu Community College, First Hawaiian Bank, Waipahu High School and the Cutter Automotive Group in response to a shortage of trained workers in the automotive technology industry.

“We are grateful for the generous monetary contribution from First Hawaiian Bank to continue this program, and are thankful to our partners at the Cutter Automotive Group for giving these students a valuable internship experience,”  says Takata. Since the program’s inception in 2004, the bank has contributed over $125,000, which covers the cost of tuition, tools and supplies.

Honolulu Community College's Automotive Technology program is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and has maintained that status since 1993.

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ABOUT HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE

For more than 90 years, Honolulu Community College has been serving the community as a comprehensive community college in the heart of Honolulu meeting the post-secondary educational needs of individuals, businesses, and the community offering 24 degree and certificate programs. Since 1970, the college has been continuously and fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. For more information, visit http://honolulu.hawaii.edu