LCC awards outstanding Automotive Systems Technology graduates

Mark Wente of Beulaville and Travis Cox of Kinston were recently recognized as outstanding graduates and awarded a new tool box from Lenoir Community College Automotive Systems Technology.

Wente, a Summer 2020 graduate and Cox, a Spring 2021 graduate were awarded the new tool box upon graduation because of their cumulative score derived from their grades, attendance, and participation in the projects in the program.  

In each semester with graduates, a candidate will earn and be awarded a similar tool box as they enter the automotive work force. In order to qualify, a student must have finished his degree in the allotted five semesters, had good attendance, and demonstrated a mastery of the subject matter through participation in labs and class.

 “Mark has been a pleasure to teach the entire time he attended here at LCC,” said David Pearce, Program Chair. “He was always willing work, study and to help other students.  I was proud to choose him as our box recipient for this semester,” he said.  

“It has truly been a pleasure to have Travis as both a student and my technical assistant.  He has always been a pleasure to work with and very willing to do whatever was asked of him.  I leaned heavily on him for support the last number of months that he was here.”  

Pearce said the tool box award was a way to reward those students who go the extra mile to gain from the program everything they can. “We felt like this tool box was very appropriate, and also a very timely help as the graduates enter the field. 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.”

The awards for the last few semesters have been delayed because of the Covid restrictions.  Although the recipients knew they had won, they have only recently returned to campus to secure their award.

The program at LCC currently holds a Master NATEF Certification. NATEF, the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, Inc, is a national institution that rates and certifies educational programs on three levels, Master being the highest certification possible. The certification reflects the support offered by the College to the Automotive Systems Technology program, as well as to the preparation, training and skill of the instructors involved. 

For more information about the Automotive Systems Technology Program, contact Pearce at (252) 527-6223, ext. 162 or email at wdpearce24@lenoircc.edu.