Midlands Technical College Foundation receives donated vehicles so education can continue
October 11, 2016
Nissan North America and Dick Smith Automotive Group help MTC Automotive Technology Program recover from 2015 flood
One year after the October 2015 floods destroyed more than half of the automobiles the Midlands Technical College Automotive Technology program uses to train students, Nissan North America and the Dick Smith Automotive Group has donated new vehicles.
The donated vehicles are a 2016 Nissan Titan, 2016 Nissan Maxima, and a 2014 Nissan Rogue, some of Nissan’s most high-end vehicles. MTC students will be able to simulate repairs, receive training on performing maintenance, and use state-of-the-art equipment to learn to run vehicle diagnostics.
Photo: Jack Hoekstra, CEO of the MTC Foundation; MTC President Dr. Ronald L. Rhames; Brian Smith and Jud Smith of the Dick Smith Automotive Group; and Carson Conner, MTC Automotive Technology Program Coordinator.
“Nissan North America is committed to being a strong supporter of technical college education. MTC needed help after the October 2015 floods, and we felt it was important to secure this donation for the students,” said Brian Smith, of the Dick Smith Automotive Group.
The Dick Smith Automotive Group has had a more than 25-year relationship with Midlands Technical College. Smith said about 60 percent of the Dick Smith automotive technicians come from MTC, and there is always a need for more employees. “We could hire 20 people today,” he said.
“The Midlands Technical College Foundation appreciates the continued support of the Dick Smith Automotive Group,” said Jack Hoekstra, CEO of the MTC Foundation. “These three vehicles, donated by Nissan North America, are going to go a long way in helping our program over the years. In the same way, I know Dick Smith dealerships will benefit from MTC graduates and future service professionals who will be trained on the latest Nissan vehicles.”
Photo: More than half of the vehicles in MTC’s Automotive Technology Program were destroyed in the flood from 2015.
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