PHILADELPHIA - Universal Technical Institute (UTI), the leader in post-secondary automotive technology education, is partnering with high schools across the country, providing support to quickly diminishing automotive programs.
UTI’s Philadelphia campus recently presented Roosevelt High School, in Yonkers, NY, with a 2004 Audi A4, on Monday, Nov. 29.
“For many students, an automotive technology education provides them with a very viable career path for their future,” said Bob Kessler, campus president for UTI Philadelphia.
Roosevelt High School closed down its automotive program for 10 years but re-opened it four years ago under the direction of Nick Ricciardi, the school’s automotive tech instructor. Due to its popularity with the students, the program yields a waiting list each semester it is offered.
Ricciardi was honored last year as Universal Technical Institute’s High School Teacher of the Year. He was presented the award at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York City, during the week of the Annual Automotive Show.
With state budget cuts continuing to threaten non-academic programs, fewer high school students are being exposed to alternative career paths like automotive technology. According to data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor:
- There will be an average of approximately 31,200 new job openings annually for new entrants from 2008 to 2018 in the automotive, collision, diesel, marine and motorcycle industries.
- In an effort to achieve greater financial and operational efficiency and flexibility, greater emphasis is being placed on aftermarket services, such as vehicle maintenance and repair, at both new and used car dealers. These services typically provide large profit margins for dealers, and remain less susceptible to economic downturn.
About Universal Technical Institute:
With more than 130,000 graduates in its 45-year history, Universal Technical Institute (UTI) offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through a campus-based school system, UTI offers specialized technical education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI). Visit www.uti.edu for more information.
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