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  • Central Georgia Technical College Milledgeville students and Automotive Technology Program Chair James Wilkes pose with the recently donated 2011 Kia Sorento during class Wednesday. Vaishali Patel

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September 9, 2010

Keys to the future

CGTC students receive hands-on training with newly donated 2011 Kia Sorento

Vaishali Patel The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE — Central Georgia Technical College was recently awarded keys to the future for local automotive students as the school was among 20 recognized by Kia Motors with an all-new 2011 Kia Sorento.

Kia Motors donated the vehicles to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) during a special event in West Point at the Kia Georgia Training Center, where Central Georgia Technical College President Dr. Michael Moye accepted the keys to the dark cherry Sorento, which was awarded to the CGTC due to the size of student enrollment in the automotive programs at the Milledgeville and Macon campuses.

“We are honored to receive this vehicle and appreciate the support Kia has given the Technical College System of Georgia, Central Georgia Technical College and our students,” Moye said via press release.

Automotive Technology Program Chair James Wilkes said student enrollment at the Milledgeville campus has continued to increase within the program since 2005, allowing hands-on training in a state-of-the-art laboratory endowed with the latest technology and training vehicles.

“We started off with only two students ... and now we have about 60 students this quarter,” Wilkes said. “We continually have to update equipment for new cars coming out. We have about seven or eight training vehicles that were donated within the last few years; some are new and some are used.”

The automotive program aims to produce highly trained graduates for the automotive industry by allowing students to learn hands-on through computer-based diagnostic tools and interactive computer simulators, such as electronic lab scopes to monitor electronic signals and a scan tool to allow a computer to communicate with a car’s computer.

“The new Kia exposes [students] to the latest technology for new cars. There are so many new creature comforts being added to cars, like all-wheel drive, navigation systems and iPod players. It’s about more than just fixing an engine on a car,” Wilkes said. “We plan to share the car with the Macon campus. We ordered the service information for it because it requires special tools, but students have already checked out the electrical accessories.”

Commissioner Ron Jackson received the donation on behalf of the TCSG during the ceremony in July.

“Students across the state will have the opportunity to experience some of the most sophisticated automotive technology on the market today,” Jackson said in a press release. “KMMG’s generous donation will help prepare our graduates with the knowledge and experience to compete in the world of advanced automotive manufacturing.”

Operated jointly by Kia and Georgia Quick Start, the Kia Georgia Training Center opened its doors in 2008 and KMMG has since hired more than 1,700 team members who began producing the best-selling, award-winning Sorento last November.

CGTC Milledgeville student Tyler Sousley said the new Kia Sorento will “give us an excellent opportunity to work on a sophisticated piece of machinery.”

George Pennington, owner of Pennington Tire Co. Auto Care Center, said he decided to enroll at CGTC’s automotive program this quarter to keep up to date on the latest electronic components and gain technical knowledge in order to continue servicing advanced vehicles at his local shop.

“The reason I came to school here was because to use the facility, scan tools and learn about the newest technology,” he said during class Wednesday.

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