Auto program recognized among top three in nation
CEU’s automotive department, under the direction of Stan Martineau, is ranked third in the nation after a student competition this summer in Kansas City.
The Automotive Industry Planning Council named CEU’s program third in the nation for postsecondary generic program. That is a program that is not backed by an automotive manufacturer such as Toyota or Ford.
This archived article was written by: Heather Myers
CEU’s automotive department, under the direction of Stan Martineau, is ranked third in the nation after a student competition this summer in Kansas City.
The Automotive Industry Planning Council named CEU’s program third in the nation for postsecondary generic program. That is a program that is not backed by an automotive manufacturer such as Toyota or Ford.
The top school in the nation had 137.17 points on the AIPC’s scale; CEU was fewer than six points below with 131.50 points. In the instructional resources and program accomplishments categories, CEU scored higher than the best school in the nation. “For a little school we’re doing pretty good … I’m just ecstatic we’ve done so well,” Martineau said.
Last year the department won awards and was placed within the top-five schools in the state. Three of the students won first place in the state and went on to compete in the national competition in Kansas City.
Ashley Dimick won first in customer service in the state and was in the top 10 in the nation. Keith Mortensen won first in job skill demonstration in the state and ranked 12th in the nation. Jordan Strait also won first in job skill demonstration in the state and was ranked in the top 15 in the nation.
CEU is now a part of the North American College Automotive Teachers. The department also offers advanced training four times a year with nationally known trainers. CEU also is the local representative for state inspections. Four times a year the school offers training for those that want to be able to perform state safety inspections. Local auto-mechanics can become nationally certified at CEU. Martineau is also on three state committees and a national committee.
CEU’s library teamed up with the automotive department and there are now three computers in the library that anyone can look up the specifications, repair procedures and locations of parts in their individual car.
Since winning this award, the automotive department has been offered several hundred dollars worth of books from companies. Last year Martineau was asked by “Fritz” Frederick Peacock of Perdue University to write an article for the NCAT News about the training offered at national conventions and how instructors from small schools would benefit from attending. The article will also be published in A-Tech/AIPC’s magazine. Both publications are for automotive instructors and are published in the United States, Canada, and A-Tech/AIPC is also published in Germany. It will be published in December 2005 or January 2006.
