Program News
November 22, 2019
Oil Changes for Veteran's was well staffed again this year as current Jefferson College Automotive Technology students from the first year and the second year worked side-by-side with Jefferson College alumni to perform over 60 oil changes for area veterans at no charge. Local high school students and students from other schools participated in the event hosted by Meineke Car Care of Arnold, MO. The students donated their time as part of a service learning project. Jefferson College instructor Brad Berrey, an active military service member, worked alongside students to coordinate the work.
November 20, 2019
Jefferson College Automotive Technology students welcomed an impressive race car as the newest addition to the Automotive Technology family. The Dobbs family's generous donation to our NATEF-accredited program will be used for student learning and promotional events at Jefferson College. Instructor Bradley Berrey and Professor Gerard Uhls were on hand to accept the donation from Mr. Dobbs. "Donations like this create more opportunities for in-depth training for our students, and we appreciate it!" said Uhls.
June 6, 2019
Jefferson College student Kayla Christian of Hillsboro recently received the 2019 Breaking Traditions Award for her success as a nontraditional student in the College’s popular Automotive Technology program.
The Breaking Traditions awards, sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), provides an opportunity for students, career-technical programs, educators, and schools to receive recognition and statewide acknowledgement for their achievements related to nontraditional careers.
“These students and educators exemplify the importance of lifelong learning,” Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven said. “By choosing nontraditional career programs, they are showing there are many paths to success for Missouri students.”
The awards recognize students in nontraditional career/technical education occupations in which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of those employed in that field. Since 1994, Breaking Traditions has honored outstanding students who have chosen technical programs based on their interests and abilities, and who have not let their gender influence career decisions.
Aside from her career aspirations and education at Jefferson College, Christian is currently completing an internship at Dobbs Tire and Auto in High Ridge where she works alongside an experienced technician.
“Kayla is easily the most motivated nontraditional student I have ever taught,” said Jefferson College Automotive Technology Professor Gerard Uhls, who nominated her for the award. “She is a completely rounded technician who possesses the drive to succeed along with shop skills, soft skills, and a positive demeanor. In short, Kayla solves problems in a way that encourages others to see the process.”
Career Centers, public two year colleges and comprehensive high schools can nominate a single student from each nontraditional program. Winners from the nine regions in the state are chosen by a panel of judges, and these finalists then compete for male and female secondary and postsecondary/adult State awards.
Jefferson College Automotive Technology student Kayla Christian (center) is a recipient of the Missouri Breaking Traditions Award for her accomplishments as a nontraditional student. Presenting the award is Automotive Technology Professor Gerard Uhls (left) and Dean of Career and Technical Education Dr. Dena McCaffrey. The Breaking Traditions awards recognize students in nontraditional career/technical education occupations in which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of those employed in that field.
May 7, 2019
Jefferson College Automotive Technology students recently completed a service learning project for the American Legion Post 253 in Festus, Missouri. Students from the first year and the second year (college and high school classes) replaced the timing chain, intake manifold, numerous suspension components, and all four brakes for the Honor Guard's Ford Explorer, all labor free. The Honor Guard travels to cemeteries to honor servicemen and servicewomen who have fallen in service to their country.
April 16, 2019
Women in Automotive and Collision representatives held a forum on the Jefferson College campus on April 16 to discuss the challenges and successes for women coming into the automotive field. Automotive Technology Professor Gerard Uhls and several automotive students in their first year attended the event to discuss the need for technicians in the field and the impact female students can have on businesses. Local industry leaders and prospective students attended the forum and shared ideas to promote the non-traditional students. The event was covered by AutobodyNews.com.
November 10, 2018
Jefferson College Automotive Technology students volunteered in the Oil Changes for Veterans event at Mieneke Car Care Center in Arnold Missouri. Over 15 students from Jefferson College including area high school seniors enrolled in the Area Technical School automotive program changed oil on over 85 cars and light trucks for our military veterans at no cost to the veterans. The students' work was supervised by Jefferson College Instructor Brad Berrey (active military) and Gerard Uhls, Professor of Automotive Technology.
October 23, 2018
Jefferson College Automotive Technology department recently welcomed Garage Gurus national trainer Rick Kearns for two training sessions in October. The high school and college classes were taught Brake Systems and Traction Control with Vehicle Stability Control. Garage Gurus is very popular on YouTube as a reliable source of vehicle information. Guru Rick Kearns travels extensively to educate technicians on proper repair techniques. Thanks for the visit!
April 9, 2018
Sadie Hefflinger from Northwest High School was selected as a 2018 Breaking Traditions winner for students pursuing a non-traditional career field. Sadie received a scholarship from the award to be used towards continued education in her field from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). We would like to congratulate Sadie for being chosen from a field of 86 candidates. Great job Sadie!
February 16, 2018
Students from the Jefferson College Automotive Technology program recently competed in the East Central District SkillsUSA competition. Chris Trusty received a Gold medal and William Antommaria received a Silver medal in their Automotive Service Technology competition. Chris Trusty will go to state level competition in April at State Technical College to represent Jefferson College. We wish him well!
November 10, 2017
Jefferson College students from the Automotive Technology program recently participated in the Oil Changes for Veterans event at Meineke Car Care Center. The college and high school students performed over 80 oil changes for free as a service learning project. Jefferson College students worked all day servicing veterans cars in five out of six bays getting real world automotive shop experience alongside automotive students from Ranken Technical College. Automotive instructors Gerard Uhls and John Scanga were working with the students to keep the work flow moving and to double check the work performed.
November 8, 2017
Automotive Technology Professor, Gerard Uhls, was featured on Episode #22 of the Technician.Academy podcast series. Mr. Uhls discussed the importance of trained technicians, explained the shortage of skilled automotive workers, and highlighted the Jefferson College Automotive Technology program. Check out Episode #22 here!
September 22, 2017
Jefferson College hosted Technician's Academy this year on September 22. Richard Young lead the class for Fuel Pump Diagnostics in the morning and taught an afternoon class on Digital Storage Oscilloscopes (DSO). In the afternoon class, students had a "hands on" scope experience thanks to AES WAVE loaning a training lab so each student could participate in scope set up, triggering and interpretation of the results. After each session some students received door prizes and two lucky students received Go Tech's courtesy of the manufacturer.
August 18, 2017
Start your engines…to celebrate the completion of a $300,000 renovation project designed to improve student learning in the Jefferson College Automotive Technology program, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Friday, August 18, at 9 a.m. in the Automotive Shop located in the Career and Technical Education Building on the Hillsboro campus.
Approved in connection with the College’s annual Strategic Planning Capital Project process, the renovation provides better utilization of shop instructional space and emulates a modern automotive environment. Improvements include double the amount of lifted working spaces for increased hands-on learning, updated workbenches and cabinetry, installation of energy-efficient high-powered LED lighting, increased storage capacity, refinished floors, and painted walls.
“We want to be the leading choice for anyone in our region who has the desire to train for a successful career as an automotive technician,” said Jefferson College President Dr. Raymond Cummiskey. “The College is at the epicenter of educating tomorrow's workforce. With the auto industry thriving, our program and renovated facilities give students hands-on experience in one of the most state-of- the-art learning centers in the region.”
June 12, 2017
To give students in the Jefferson College Automotive Technology program the opportunity to learn on various makes and models of vehicles, College President Dr. Raymond Cummiskey recently donated his family’s Chrysler Pacifica to the College.
“My family and I are pleased to be able to support the training our Automotive Technology program students receive as part of this nationally accredited program,” said Cummiskey. “Just as a physician in training needs to have experience treating people of all ages and ethnicities, our Automotive Technology students need the opportunity to train on domestic and foreign vehicles as well as cars and trucks in order to have a diverse knowledge base.”
Cummiskey (center) gives the keys to students Zachary DeRousse and Sabrina Borrini. Also pictured, from left, is Automotive Technology Instructor Bradley Berrey, Automotive Technology Professor Gerard Uhls, and Jefferson College Foundation Executive Director Patti Christen.
May 8, 2017
To enhance instruction and training taught to students in the Jefferson College Automotive Technology program, the College recently received a donation of a 2008 Chrysler Sebring from InstaCredit Automart of Arnold. “Jefferson College is a leading facility for workforce training in the region. When we first started talking about this partnership we knew we could help, and we’re excited to do so,” said Don Birger, owner and president of InstaCredit Automart.
The donated vehicle will be used to support student mastery of skills within the Automotive Technology program in connection with the College’s accreditation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for meeting strict industry standards in the areas of brakes, electrical/electronic systems, engine performance, engine repair, and suspension/steering.
Jefferson College Automotive Technology Professor Gerard Uhls (center) accepted the keys from InstaCredit AutomartArnold Service and Facility Manager Mike Mudd. Pictured, from left, is Jefferson College Foundation Executive Director Patti Christen, InstaCredit Automart-Arnold Service Manager Wayne Watson, Uhls, Mudd, Jefferson College Automotive Technology Instructor Bradley Berrey, and College President Dr. Raymond Cummiskey.
April 6, 2017
The Automotive Technology program has received full re-accreditation by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) through 2022. To renew NATEF accreditation status, the Automotive Technology program underwent a rigorous evaluation using nationally accepted standards of excellence in instruction, facilities, and equipment. NATEF accreditation provides external verification of the quality of the Jefferson College Automotive Technology program.
November 11, 2016
Jefferson College automotive students participated in the Free Oil Changes for Veterans at Meineke Car Care Center at 4021 West outer Road on November 11. Both high school Area Technical School (ATS) and college students changed oil in over 125 vehicles at no charge to veterans. Owner Charlie Sheldon said, "We couldn't do this many oil changes without the support of Jefferson College." Jefferson College faculty Gerard Uhls and Bradley Berrey helped coordinate the oil changes throughout the day.
October 6, 2016
CEO and founder of Technicians Academy Shawn Collins and Richard Young came out to Jefferson College for a fuel systems class on Thursday, October 6, 2016 in the Automotive Technology department. Jefferson College high school and college students participated in the morning long session which covered current and future technology in the automotive industry. Scope training, wiring diagrams and diagnostics were covered to over 40 students in attendance.
(Pictured left to right: Richard Young, Gerard Uhls, and Shawn Collins)
September 20, 2016
Jefferson College and AutoZone have teamed up to provide automotive aftermarket training to technicians around the area. Over 25 technicians interested in sharpening their skills came from as far as Belleville, Illinois for Honda and Toyota Charging system training on September 20, 2016. William (Bill) Cochran (far left in photo), a double master ASE technician, was thrilled with the turnout and shared his knowledge for over three hours to Jefferson College students and professional technicians. Bill is based in Florida and trains across the nation.
August 20, 2016
Jefferson College and Kevin's Car Care (Barnhart) sponsored a continuing automotive electrical course on Saturday, August 20, 2016. The coursework, entitled Essential Electronics, is in a series of courses focusing on automotive electronics for the automotive aftermarket industry. Saturday's course involved hands on training with advanced automotive scopes and diagnostic procedures which accompany it. The trainer, Kevin Leiby (pictured to the left), is a technical trainer for Leiby's Automotive Training.
