The Career Education Center’s (CEC) Automotive Technology Program recently received approximately $70,000 in donated equipment from Freeway Ford, doubling the size of the auto shop. The donation included six rotary automotive lifts, five hose reel sets, 16 exhaust hoses and one fire extinguisher.

“Offering more students the opportunity to work on more cars enables better instruction because we can teach a broader range of car problems,” said teacher Rick Nuanes. “The old lifts were wearing out, so this donation ensures that students will be able to continue ‘lifting’ cars on professional racks.”

Freeway Ford, under the leadership of Mike Peoples and Terry Werner, is a faithful supporter of the Automotive Technology Program. Members of the company serve on the Program’s Advisory Committee and help instructors maintain state-of-the-art curriculum and internships for students.

The advisory committee, composed of six adults and one high school student, works to advise instructors on the technology that should be included in the classroom, identify trends in the industry and help teachers update curriculum standards for the class to ensure that students receive instruction that will enable them to leave the classroom for good-paying jobs. They also work with instructors to help graduates find positions in the auto tech field.

The mechanics of Freeway Ford also donated a toolbox and tools worth $1,000 to Jeff Smith, a senior at the Career Education Center. Smith received the toolbox based on his commitment and achievement in the Automotive Technology Program throughout his years at CEC. Smith is now at Arapahoe Community College studying automotive technology. He is considered one of their top students and is currently employed at an independent auto repair shop.

Partners like Freeway Ford are essential to the Career Education Center and businesses are invited to contact principal Pete Hergenreter if they are interested in partnering with CEC to help high school students.

The Career Education Center is the Denver Public School’s only comprehensive career and technical education magnet school. Located at 2650 Eliot Street, CEC is open to all ninth through twelfth grade students in the metro Denver area. The district offers transportation to CEC. Twenty-two career programs are represented at CEC and over 800 students are currently exploring their career options in a part-time program while attending their own high school for academic classes. Students who are enrolled in the full-time program begin taking college classes during their junior year.

For further information on CEC, call Merrilee Thomas at 303-964-3015 or Diane Cherry at 303-964-3059 or e-mail diane_cherry@dpsk12.org.