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VGCC Automotive Students Earn National Certification

Three students in the day Automotive Systems Technology program and two in the evening program at Vance-Granville Community College have earned certification from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).

Vance-Granville’s Automotive Systems Technology program earned NATEF certification 2 ½ years ago, which indicates the program meets national standards for training. Students who complete the program are assured that their training is current, complete and applicable to the automotive industry.

Since VGCC was certified, more than 50 students have gone through the program, and the latest are among those who have been certified nationally. Travis Smith of Kittrell, Brian Ellis of Youngsville and Vincent Peynado of Roxboro are the latest certified in the day program. Bernard Benson of Henderson and Chadwick Perry of Wake Forest earned certification in the evening program. 

Upon completion of the curriculum, students are prepared to take the Automotive Service Excellence exam and be ready for full-time employment in dealerships and repair shops in the automotive industry. 

Fred Brewer, program head and instructor for the VGCC program, said the five students recently certified are all prepared to enter the workplace and should become excellent automotive technicians.


Travis Smith, Brian Ellis and Vincent Peynado have earned national certification in the Automotive Systems Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College. In the picture are, from left: James H. Wheeler, Jr., chairman of Vocational Education, Smith, Ellis, Peynado and Fred Brewer, program head and instructor of the Automotive program at Vance-Granville.