GM donation gives CNA students a technological advantage
6/4/2013 11:17:13 AM
From left John Oates, Campus Administrator of Prince Philip Drive, Bert Hickman, Dealer/Operator - Hickman Motors, Craig Marsh, General Sales Manager - Terra Nova Motors, and Alexia Russell, Sales Manager - Terra Nova Motors, with the recently donated GM vehicles.
General Motors of Canada continued its support of College of the North Atlantic (CNA) recently with a donation of a 2013 Camaro ZL1 Coupe, a Camaro 2LT and a 2013 Buick Verano.
While you won’t see students driving these vehicles throughout the city, they will be put to good use as training aids at the Prince Philip Drive campus. Students from three programs will gain valuable hands-on experience while working on the vehicles.
The new cars will primarily be used for the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP), but will also be used by the Motor Vehicle Body Repairer (Metal and Paint) and the Automotive Service Technician programs.
“The 2013 Camaro ZL1 is the most technologically advanced Camaro ever,” says Charlie Druken, ASEP instructor. “These automobiles will expose students to the some of the latest technologies found on vehicles today providing them with true hands-on experience.”
ASEP is an accelerated apprenticeship program conducted in cooperation with General Motors of Canada, General Motors Dealers in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Department of Advanced Education and Skills (Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division) and CNA.
Students in the ASEP program spend eight weeks in training, learning the latest in automotive technology followed by approximately eight weeks at a sponsored dealer. This rotation is continued until all required in-school training is completed over a two-year period.
ASEP student, Evan Cox says the donated cars will go a long way in their training.
“I think it is a very beneficial thing to the students at CNA. It gives us as service technicians the opportunity to work on up-to-date technologies that today’s vehicles have,” says Cox.
“One of the two Camaros that were donated is the most powerful production Camaro ever made and it is unlikely that we will get the chance to work on one in the workplace, but GM have provided us all as students the opportunity to be able to take advantage of this highly beneficial learning experience. This generous donation will no doubt be put to good use and give us an edge on becoming knowledgeable and skilled when it comes to working on and servicing vehicle systems that are up-to-date and current in the automotive field of today.”
"GM places education at the forefront of our vehicle donation programs," said Adria MacKenzie, corporate communications manager, General Motors of Canada Limited. "GM is strongly committed to investing in the future, through our donation program and sponsorships as well as in our operations and research and development activities."
For more information about the ASEP, Motor Vehicle Body Repairer (Metal and Paint), or Automotive Service Technician programs visit www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca