Automotive Service students receive surprise on return to classroom
![Photo of Ross Collins students in auto class.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1723840954/mpsdk12net/q2zpbnmskyjhvlaga2yb/081624RcPathfinder3.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1723840954/mpsdk12net/q2zpbnmskyjhvlaga2yb/081624RcPathfinder3.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1723840954/mpsdk12net/q2zpbnmskyjhvlaga2yb/081624RcPathfinder3.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1723840954/mpsdk12net/q2zpbnmskyjhvlaga2yb/081624RcPathfinder3.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1723840954/mpsdk12net/q2zpbnmskyjhvlaga2yb/081624RcPathfinder3.jpg","width":1440}])
Students in the Automotive Service Repair program at Ross Collins Career and Technical Center were surprised when they returned to classes for the new school year.
A new Nissan Pathfinder was parked in the shop waiting for students to have the chance to gain hands-on experience while learning the ins and outs of a brand new vehicle.
“Now the students will come here and learn on a new model car,” said Elroy Gathright, Automotive Service Repair Instructor. “This will be a good tool and we want the vehicle to look just as clean as when we got it."
The Mississippi Department of Education partnered with Nissan North America to provide new Nissan Pathfinders to those Automotive Service programs in Mississippi that are National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, (NATEF), accredited. The program at Ross Collins Career and Technical Center is NATEF accredited, which means the program meets industry standards and the qualifications of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
“The Nissan Pathfinder will be used strictly for training purposes only,” said Matt Johnson, Ross Collins CTE Center Director. “Our students will be able to see the newest and up-to-date technology on modern-day vehicles. This vehicle will allow our students to gain hands-on experience performing service and diagnostic procedures that will prepare them for the industry.”
Senior Patrick Heidelberg has this to say about the opportunity.
“Having the new vehicle it will give us a chance to keep up with the new technology that's constantly elevating and evolving. So, with us having this new vehicle we will be able to know more about what we got to do and how to fix it.”
Eleventh-grader Jaonta Fox is thankful for the opportunity to have Ross Collins.
“I actually like them because I’m going to like a trade school instead of college and it’s helped very much,” said Fox.
Thank you to the Mississippi Department of Education and Nissan North America for providing this opportunity for our students.
