Southeastern gets “Clip Car” for Student Training
Southeastern’s Automotive Technology department has some new training equipment this week, thanks to the top-notch skills of senior Peter Huckins, and a donation from a local technical institute, which offers post-secondary training in transportation mechanics.
On Tuesday, staff members of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Norwood delivered a 2002 “clip car,” to Southeastern, which is a fully-functional car that has been cut in half, to be used as a learning tool for auto technician students. UTI donated the car because Huckins had won a gold medal at a SkillsUSA state competition in April.
Steve Fitzgerald, a UTI admissions representative, said clip cars are perfect training tools because they are portable and don’t need to be jacked up. He said his school donates them for a variety of reasons.
“We have about 60 to 70 at our school, and we like to put them to good use,” he said.
Huckins won the gold medal competing against eight other teams in a series of work station tasks in auto repair. The senior has now completed all his classes at Southeastern, and will attend Kettering University in Flint, Michigan this fall, but he returned to his old class to see the clip car being delivered.
“It’s exciting, and it’s been a great opportunity. I’m glad I could make this happen,” he said
Southeastern teachers say the students have been working on cars much older than 2002, so they are happy to have more up-to-date equipment. Robert Vinskus, who teaches automotive technology, said that he is also really proud of Peter, who placed second in two other state competitions this year –the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills and the Massachusetts Auto Dealers Association.
“He has set the bar for the rest of the students. They can see what he’s done, and look to the next level,” Vinskus said.