NJC auto show happens this weekend

***Press Release***

Darrien Allison to reign as queen of the event

By Barbara Baker

Members of the Northeastern Junior College Auto Techs Club have been busy for weeks now pulling together the annual Auto Show which will take place this weekend, April 5 and 6 at the college’s North Campus. The entries have been collected, the shop is being cleaned out and ready for move-in and the queen has been crowned.

This year’s royalty honors go Darrien Allison, a freshmen elementary education major from Flagler, CO who was chosen by the club to wear this year’s sash and crown. Allison, who says her only other experience as a queen was being a prom queen, is excited about her role in this year’s event. She will be at the show to greet the crowd and will be helping hand out trophies on Sunday at 3 p.m. during the awards presentation.

“I’m really excited about just seeing the people who come to the event,” Allison said. “My grandpa who lives in Arizona has always done some of this kind of thing, taking old cars and restoring them and showing them at shows. I am just amazed at how beautiful they are and how detailed the craftsmanship is to make them back how they were.”  This year’s queen, who prefers to just be called “D”, was encouraged by some of the Auto Techs Club members to apply to be the queen this year.  Since coming to Northeastern, she’s been active in the theatre department’s improve group and she has a role in this weekend’s college play, Almost, Maine which will be performed on April 4, 5 and 6^th at the Dorothy J. Corsberg Theatre in E.S. French Hall.  She was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Chapter honor society on campus this past Sunday evening. D plans to continue her education at University of Northern Colorado when she is done at Northeastern.

The Auto Show will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and will continue until 9 p.m., reopening again on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and closing at 3 p.m. with an awards presentation at 3 on Sunday.  Cost of the event is $3 for adults and $1 for children age 12 and under.

This year’s show, which happens at 318 Hagen Street on the college’s North Campus will also feature a model car show and a toy show which is being put on by the college’s Diesel Power Club. The Diesel Power Club will also be running concessions at the dual shows. Unlike past year’s, this year the students sought out some sponsors for the event. S and S Auto, Wolf Auto and EB Autos all put some resources toward the event and are helping finance this long-running event.  

Spectators should expect to see some beautiful vintage cars as well as some brand new models. There will be classics, street rods, hot rods. Every year there tends to be something that hasn't been on display before. Those who attend are asked to vote for the car they think should win and a People’s Choice Award is presented at the end of the event.

An NJC baseball game will be taking place on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons when the Plainsmen take on Otero Junior College. Plainsman Park where the field is located is adjacent to the automotive technology building where the auto show happens.  With play productions taking place on the main campus at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, April 4 and 5^th and a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday and the auto show and baseball happening out on Pioneer Road, there’s no reason why you shouldn't come in contact with Northeastern and its students sometime this weekend during all of these events that are open to the public.

Ward wins auto technology award

***Press Release***

Logan Ward of Atwood, CO and a second year student in the automotive technology program at Northeastern Junior College has been named the NAPA Student of the Month for November.  Ward is on track to earn his Associate of Applied Science Degree in automotive technology this May. The son of Larry and Shannon Ward, Logan graduated from Merino High School.  His interest in engines and hot rods has grown over the years. He grew up around cars and trucks, helping his dad and others tinker with vehicles. He especially likes the engine aspect of automotive technology, figuring out how to make one perform better, increasing efficiencies and speed.  He was selected for the award by instructor Layton  Peterman for his performance academically as well as how he completed the various labs that are part of the training in the shop area. For winning, Logan received an engraved plaque and a gift certificate from NAPA Auto and Truck Parts who has partnered with NJC for more than 20 years on these monthly awards. Pictured here with Logan Ward (right) is Aaron Hettinger, outside salesman for the NAPA store (left). (Courtesy Photo) 

  

Krier wins auto technology award

***Press Release***

Austin Krier, a senior at Sterling High School and a student in the Secondary Automotive Technology program at Northeastern Junior College, was recently named the NAPA Student of the Month for September of this year.  NAPA sponsors a monthly award which is rotated through the secondary program as well as the collegiate automotive technology program and the diesel technology program, all operated by the college.  Every few months, students are recognized for their outstanding performance in the classrooms and in the lab settings where hands-on learning is taking place.  Students who win receive an engraved plaque and a gift certificate from the NAPA Auto and Truck Parts store in Sterling. NAPA has been sponsoring these monthly awards for more than 20 years now.

Krier is the son of Matt and Krista Krier of Sterling.  This is his first year to participate in the secondary automotive program. This program is a joint venture of Northeastern and the Northeast Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) which allows area high school students to spend some of their school week at the college’s facility learning skills related to automotive repair and upkeep.  Krier (left) is shown here with NAPA’s outside sales manager Aaron Hettinger, who coordinates the awards program.  (Courtesy Photo)

  

NJC students excel at state competition

***Press Release***

Jonny Stahley and Mike Pomeroy, both from Merino High School, who were enrolled in the Secondary Automotive Technology program at Northeastern Junior College this past spring, recently competed in the state-wide Skills USA contest. Pomeroy placed 17th overall and Stahley placed 19^th out of 35 competitors from all areas of Colorado. The two had previously placed at the top of the district contest to earn their way to the larger state competition.  In the state’s  Ford AAA contest,  Jonny and Mike as a team finished second overall in the written portion of the testing,  out of 150 students. The duo placed sixth in the hands-on part of the contest.  During the hands-on portion, experts deliberately put some “bugs” in the engine or other operating systems and it is up to the students to find out what is wrong with the car, working against time.  To help Stahley and Pomeroy prepare for the competition, Mike Schadegg from Wolf Auto in Sterling temporarily donated a 2013 Ford Focus to the college for the students to train on before they went to compete at the state level in mid-May in Denver.  For many years, Wolf Auto and Jim Able from Ford AAA Colorado have done a great job supporting the automotive programs at Northeastern with the donation of cars, advice, and other resources.

NJC Secondary Auto Tech to host oyster fry April 23

***Press Release***

Fundraiser helps cover cost of fuel for summer car races

The Secondary Auto Tech Program at Northeastern Junior College will hold its annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Tuesday, April 23^rd from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

This program is made up of high school juniors and seniors from Sterling, Caliche and Merino who are on the campus of Northeastern Junior College each week to learn automotive skills. Many of the students are involved in the Skills USA VICA Club and this group has a race car that it maintains and races at area tracks during the summer. Proceeds from the oyster fry are used in part to pay for fuel for these competitions. Richard Moon is the group’s sponsor.

The fry will be held at the Area Vocational Building on NJC’s North Campus which is located just off Pioneer Road in Sterling. Cost for the all you can eat feed will be $10 for adults and $3 for children, ages 11 and under. Chicken is also available for those who don’t enjoy oysters. Tickets are available at the door. 

NJC wins new auto training device

***Press Release***

Greeley firm awards teaching tool to college

Students in Northeastern Junior College’s automotive technology programs have a new training tool available this new year.  It’s an Atech Powertrain Systems Trainer with a GM Electronic Ignition System included.  Valued at nearly $9,000, this training unit was given away during a drawing that was held during the Colorado Automotive Teachers Association (CATA) conference held here in Sterling last fall. NJC’s secondary automotive technology teacher Richard Moon was the lucky winner.  The drawing was held by High Country Technology Consultants who was at the conference displaying their units to automotive technology teachers from all over the state. 

This new training device is used as an instructional aid in teaching one of the four certification areas for National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) task coverage. It is manufactured using original GM components, the kind that would be found in the model year vehicle it was developed for. These trainers are used by automotive instructors when they are teaching Advanced Engine Performance and Advanced Ignition Systems courses.  Prior to its arrival, NJC used live car diagnostics, but this sophisticated tool will enhance the curriculum in this area.

High Country Technology Consultants (HCTC), headquartered in Greeley, was founded in 2002 and  represents several manufacturers of training equipment used in community colleges, junior colleges, universities, private trade schools and secondary educational facilities. The company provides installation, on-site training, technical support and instructor workshops for the majority of the products it sells. “We serve on several CTE advisory committees in support of the various career and technical education programs in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana,” explains Dan Ramsier, LLP, upon making the presentation to NJC. 

High Country Technology Consultants, LLP is staffed by the founder, Dan Ramseier, LLP Partner/Founder, Andy Ramseier, LLP Partner/Technical Support and Training and Jana Ramseier, Sales Support/Office Manager. Dan started working in Educational Sales with Lab Technologies in 1990 and attended his first CATS meeting that year. This support of the CATS organization has continued for over 20 years and resulted in many friendships with the dedicated instructors in the Automotive Technology and Diesel Technology programs around the state.  

Richard Moon was excited to accept the trainer on behalf  of NJC and helped oversee getting it set up on the college’s north campus so it can be used by not only his secondary automotive technology students, but also by the collegiate-auto tech students and the diesel technology students who are taking classes in the automotive area as part of the auto-diesel master technician training. 

NJC wins new auto training device

***Press Release***

Greeley firm awards teaching tool to college

Students in Northeastern Junior College’s automotive technology programs have a new training tool available this new year.  It’s an Atech Powertrain Systems Trainer with a GM Electronic Ignition System included.  Valued at nearly $9,000, this training unit was given away during a drawing that was held during the Colorado Automotive Teachers Association (CATA) conference held here in Sterling last fall. NJC’s secondary automotive technology teacher Richard Moon was the lucky winner.  The drawing was held by High Country Technology Consultants who was at the conference displaying their units to automotive technology teachers from all over the state. 

This new training device is used as an instructional aid in teaching one of the four certification areas for National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) task coverage. It is manufactured using original GM components, the kind that would be found in the model year vehicle it was developed for. These trainers are used by automotive instructors when they are teaching Advanced Engine Performance and Advanced Ignition Systems courses.  Prior to its arrival, NJC used live car diagnostics, but this sophisticated tool will enhance the curriculum in this area.

High Country Technology Consultants (HCTC), headquartered in Greeley, was founded in 2002 and  represents several manufacturers of training equipment used in community colleges, junior colleges, universities, private trade schools and secondary educational facilities. The company provides installation, on-site training, technical support and instructor workshops for the majority of the products it sells. “We serve on several CTE advisory committees in support of the various career and technical education programs in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana,” explains Dan Ramsier, LLP, upon making the presentation to NJC. 

High Country Technology Consultants, LLP is staffed by the founder, Dan Ramseier, LLP Partner/Founder, Andy Ramseier, LLP Partner/Technical Support and Training and Jana Ramseier, Sales Support/Office Manager. Dan started working in Educational Sales with Lab Technologies in 1990 and attended his first CATS meeting that year. This support of the CATS organization has continued for over 20 years and resulted in many friendships with the dedicated instructors in the Automotive Technology and Diesel Technology programs around the state.  

Richard Moon was excited to accept the trainer on behalf  of NJC and helped oversee getting it set up on the college’s north campus so it can be used by not only his secondary automotive technology students, but also by the collegiate-auto tech students and the diesel technology students who are taking classes in the automotive area as part of the auto-diesel master technician training. 

Thompson earns NJC auto tech award

***Press Release***

Jerrod Thompson, a student at Caliche High School who is enrolled in the secondary automotive technology program at Northeastern Junior College has been recognized at the NAPA Auto and Truck Parts Student of the Month. Thompson was recognized as the recipient for the month of November as winners are selected post facto. He received the recognition in mid-December once it was determined that he had the best attendance and the best grade in the class during this time frame. He competed with 26 other students to win the award.  

NAPA provides a monthly award during the school year which is alternated between the college’s secondary program, it’s collegiate auto tech program and it’s collegiate diesel technology program. Aaron Hettinger (right), the outside sales representative from NAPA presented the award to Thompson along with a $25 gift certificate and an engraved plaque. 

NJC Auto Tech Oyster Fry April 24

Secondary Auto Tech Oyster Fry

NJC Auto Show set for March 24-25

***NJC Press Release***


Students accepting entries now



The Northeastern Junior College Auto Techs Club is working diligently to get everything in place for its 2012 Auto Show set for the weekend of March 24-25th. The Club is currently accepting entries for the show in all categories including life-size and model cars.

Hot rods, new cars, vintage specialties, street rods, special function vehicles of all ages and makes are eligible for the show. Entries received prior to March 9 only pay $20 per entry fee and those entered after this date will pay $25.00. The show will be set up the afternoon and evening of March 23rd and early morning of March 24th. Contestants are vying for show trophies, special awards and bragging rights. Complete show rules and entry forms are available on NJC’s website at the following address: http://www.njc.edu/Academics/Automotive-Technology/Auto-Show

As usual, a model car show and competition will also be held. The students would love to see more entries in this area. Classes for participation are age 6-12, ages 12-16 and ages 17 and up. Awards are given for the first and second place entry in each class. A Best Display and People’s Choice are also awarded to the model car participants. No metal or preassembled cars will be judged. There is no entry fee for the model car show.

The Diesel Power Club will hold its annual Toy Show in conjunction it the auto show on Saturday, March 24th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The students are looking for exhibitors for the toy show now and want vendors to preregister before March 20th. To find out more about the toy show specifically, call (970) 521-6739. If you collect and trade toys or if you are a retail vendor, this is a great place to showcase your inventory.

All questions pertaining to entry qualifications specifically for the auto show or the model car show should contact Layton Peterman at (970) 521-6794.