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FCC AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAM GROWS
by Holden August
F rontier Community College's marketing slogan "Start here, go anywhere" is perfectly embodied by its Automotive Technology Department. Not only have the department and staff undergone tremendous and meaningful growth since the program's founding in 2003, but its students have also shown that FCC is the perfect launch site for a career no matter where your end goal may be. Assistant Professor and program founderRodneyMaxeyhasbeenwith the FCC Automotive department since its inception. In 2003, Maxey was hired by FCC after a career of teaching Automotive Technology. In 1996, Maxey started by training professionals at Moog Automotive in St. Louis, Missouri. After Moog, he transitioned to amore traditional teaching position at SIU, giving him experience in training not only professionals, but also bright-eyed newcomers to the exciting field of Automotive Technology. He stayed at this position until 2003, when the opportunity to start a new automotive program at Frontier Community College. This program was started from
scratch by Maxey and his team at FCC. Maxey says, "When I came to the college, the automotive area was just a section of the warehouse." Since then, the program and its building have grown to include multiple high- tech classrooms, a full Automotive Lab and has received the highest ASE accreditation, Master ASE. Not only is the program itself certified with Master ASE accreditation, but its two instructors are certified with the ranking as well. Though thrilled to have received this high level of regard, Maxey and the rest of the department are not content to stay still. The department has recently purchased a diesel simulator, which will allow the program to add a new, mandatory diesel performance class to its already impressive degree requirements. Along with the diesel simulator, the program recently acquired two new vehicles that Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana donated. Derek Wissel is responsible for starting the process that led to this generous donation. Wissel graduated from the FCC automotive program, after which he continued
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