VGCC Student’s Project in Nationwide Contest
A student in Vance-Granville Community College’s Automotive Systems Technology program will soon find out if his creativity won a contest sponsored by a national magazine and an automotive parts manufacturer. Late last year, Tomorrow’s Technician, a magazine that serves students and instructors of automotive training programs at educational institutions, announced that ACDelco was sponsoring a special project in which students were invited to use the magazine’s cardboard shipping container and “recycle” the box to create something new. VGCC student Nathan W. Hatchel of Henderson (pictured above, with his project) tried to think of something unique. In about two hours, he transformed the box into a representation of his own VGCC education. In one corner, there is an open book, near the words “Study with ACDelco” and “Watch your career fly.” In other corners, he constructed a lift and an engine on a stand, inspired by similar equipment in the VGCC Automotive shop. He paid attention to detail, including a tiny oil cap on the engine block and using the ACDelco name as often as possible. The most prominent detail may be the red and blue flames coming from the engine, which gave the model the name “All Fired-Up.”
Hatchel’s instructor, VGCC Automotive program head Fred Brewer , sent pictures of the project to the magazine, which featured them on its web site ( http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/ ). The other entries in the contest, which include a model truck and a spark plug made from the box, come from schools in Texas, Ohio and Alabama. The winning entry will be featured in the magazine’s next issue, and the winner’s entire class will be treated to a pizza lunch.
Hatchel has been a VGCC student for six months and plans to graduate this summer. Before enrolling at the college, he served in the United States Marine Corps for four years, including service as a tank mechanic.
Vance-Granville’s automotive program is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), indicating that the program continues to meet high national standards. Upon completion of the one-year VGCC program, students are prepared to take the ASE exam and are ready for full-time employment in dealerships and repair shops in the automotive industry. For more information on the automotive program at VGCC, contact Fred Brewer at (252) 492-2061, ext. 3204.
