Pictured left to right, are Lenoir Community College Automotive Technology Program Chair David Pearce, LCC Automotive Systems Technology Graduate Jeremy Garcia-Suarez, LCC Dean of Business Technologies Gary Clements, and LCC Automotive Technology Instructor Noah Wiggins.

Lenoir Community College student Jeremy Garcia-Suarez of Pink Hill was recently awarded a new toolbox from the LCC Automotive Systems Technology Program. 

Garcia-Suarez, a new graduate from the program, was awarded this box upon graduation because of his cumulative score derived from his grades, attendance, and participation in the projects in the program.  Each semester, twice per year, a graduate will earn and be awarded a similar toolbox as they enter the automotive workforce.

 In order to qualify, a student must have finished his or her degree in the allotted five semesters, had good attendance, and demonstrated a mastery of the subject matter through participation in labs and class.

“Jeremy has been a pleasure to teach the entire time he attended here at LCC. He was always willing to work, study and to help other students,” Program Chair David Pearce said. “We have been looking for a way to reward those students who go the extra mile to gain from the program everything that they can. We felt like this toolbox was very appropriate, and also a very timely help as the graduates enter the field. 

“This year, we increased the award by adding a small toolset to go along with the box,” Pearce said. “One of the attractive elements of this award is that it is not always the student with the highest GPA that wins, since there are other factors involved. For example, we count attendance and punctuality heavily.”

Garcia-Suarez, formerly worked at Massey Toyota, and is now working at Stroud’s Engine Rebuilding under Wendell Taylor. 

The LCC Automotive Systems Technology Program is a two-year program offering an Associate in Applied Science degree, as well as a number of employability certificates. The program is accredited at the highest level by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, Inc. In addition, the program offers training in the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) and offers over about 15 related certificates.

For any questions regarding the Automotive Systems Technology program or registration for the upcoming semester, please contact David Pearce at wdpearce24@lenoircc.edu, or call 252-527-6223.