Career Center and SEMA Collaborate
Written by Morghyn Frederick
Automotive Technology Student Career Center High School
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has recently added Career Center High School (as well as a couple other schools) to their list of schools in 2019. Those schools include, Career Center High School in Winston-Salem, NC, Comstock High School in Kalamazoo, MI, John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, IL, McGavock High School in Nashville, TN, Mon Valley Career and Technology Center in Charleroi, PA, Omaha Public Schools Career Center in Omaha, NE, R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, TX, Santa Fe ECO in Santa Fe, NM, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School In Santa Ynez, CA, Wichita Falls Career Education Center in Wichita Falls, TX.
Now that we are part of the High School Vehicle Build Program, they sent us a 2001 Jeep Wrangler with a little more than 70,000 miles on it for us to "supe-up" and design as we please. I think I speak for every automotive class at Career Center when I say that we are excited to work on this Jeep.
SEMA's High School Build Program is a relatively new one. Since it began three years ago in 2017, it has expanded from only one participating school to adding 10 additional just this year alone! "The program aims to engage students in the customization lifestyle and introduce them to a career path within the automotive aftermarket industry..," according to SEMA's recent article.
SEMA's Youth Engagement Program Manager, Katie Hurst, claims that the program gives students applicable skill sets, real-world knowledge as well as a sense of community.
Over the course of his semester, students will gain hands-on-experience with entire vehicles and the aftermarket industry by exploring important skill sets such as installation, body-styling, and, of course, team building.
I can say that I am excited to both work on a one-of-a-kind vehicle as well as getting closer to my classmates. Automotive Technology has introduced to me a whole new aspect of engineering and brought me together with so many different people, and I am proud to call them my friends.
As one of the few females in the automotive classes, I was initially super nervous about going into a predominantly male industry. However, if it wasn't for the support of the teachers and my friends, I'm convinced I wouldn't be working as hard as I am right now.
This automotive class and SEMA program collaboration not only makes room for new career paths but also makes room for a second family.