June 12, 2019 -- Heights High’s Career and Technical Education programs prepare students for both future education and an immediate career. The Auto Technology program, located inside the Delisle Building, recently held an awards ceremony and luncheon to honor students who have earned professional certifications from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. 

 

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Business owner, community leader, and longtime advocate of strong CTE programming, Sam Bell served as the Master of Ceremonies at the May 10th event. He first honored teacher Jeff Porter who is an ASE-certified Master Automotive Technician and has achieved the Advanced Engine Performance Level-One Certificate, which is a notoriously difficult accomplishment. 

“When you see someone who is L-1 certified like Mr. Porter, you are seeing someone who has demonstrated the highest level of expertise,” said Mr. Bell. 

He then went on to recognize the 14 students who have earned certifications this year, the majority of them earning three. Heights High senior Jackson Herschman earned an impressive total of 10 certificates, breaking the previous record held by a student of nine.

Jackson plans to study specialized airplane mechanics at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics next year.

As Mr. Bell said, “Maintaining and repairing a modern automobile demands a wide variety of skills ranging from the simple applied physics of nuts and bolts, through the plumbing of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, onward to the wiring of electrical systems, and to electronics and computer networking, along with fabrication and machining. Our students have been introduced to each of these skills and now have at least a basic understanding of each of these subsystems, their interactions, and their integration into the incredibly complex system we call a car.”