Tucked away inside the north side of the Crossland Technology Center, 28 students from six different high schools geared up for a competition that tested their automotive skills. David Ferguson is the Assistant Professor of Automotive Service Technology at PSU and organized the event.
“What we’re doing is bringing them in our house,” he said. “We’re putting some pressure on them through eight different stations underneath the automotive umbrella, and what that does for them is it gives them a little taste of what it’s like to actually go in our industry.”
Within the eight categories, students were tested on electrical diagnostics, engine performance, steering and suspension. They were also interviewed by industry professionals.
“It starts off with our interview process,” Ferguson said. “They gotta go through industry partners from Crossland in there, and they’re asking them questions as they would be trying to get hired on for their company.”
Fort Scott High School’s automotive program was in attendance on Wednesday. Ryan Miller, who is the Automotive Instructor at Fort Scott High School, highlighted how valuable talking with professionals is for students.
“They get to see parts, or talk with people that are in the program now, so if they decide that they really want to do this, they’ve had some people that can help guide them towards this,” he said.
For Ferguson, the event is about exposing kids to what is available to them out of high school, even if they are not sure what they want to do.
“Coming out of high school they’re just kids, right?” he said, “I think it’s ridiculous to sit here and ask ‘What are you gonna do for a living?’ when you're 17, 18 years old.”
The event is also a way to highlight the different avenues within the automotive industry.
“The automotive umbrella is so huge,” Ferguson said, “If you like cars but you don’t want to turn a wrench, we can still find something for you.”
Emphasis areas with the Automotive Technology major at PSU include Automotive Mechanical Design, Advanced Vehicle Systems, Automotive Technical, Collision Repair and Insurance Management, Dealership and Corporate Transportation Management, and Diesel and Heavy Equipment.
Established in 1915, PSU’s Automotive program is the oldest in the nation and is recognized as a leader in automotive education. According to Ferguson, this is a huge reason why the competition has lasted as long as it has.
“The students go home and they brag about what we just did,” he said. “What they just saw, and what Pitt State has to offer, because we just don’t keep them in this little lab. We get done competing, and we take them throughout the building so they can see what we have on this side of the world in Pittsburg, Kansas.”
However, it’s not just about showing students what PSU has to offer. They can also gain confidence by participating in the competition.
“Confidence,” he said, “The more time that you are under pressure, the more confidence you build. Pressure develops diamonds, and that’s what we do here.”
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