The Cerritos Community College District’s Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Center was awarded an additional $1 million to increase career awareness in the clean fuels transportation field for high school students in underserved communities – regions impacted by poor air quality and those serving minority populations.
The original funding of $1 million allowed for 12 high schools across the state to offer clean fuels technology training to students, introduce opportunities to students who may not have considered a career in clean fuels transportation, and encourage interested students to matriculate into well-established community college programs to continue their studies.
The enthusiasm of the awarded high school teachers and their community college partners has been contagious, prompting additional schools to inquire about opportunities to also receive funds for their auto programs. Thanks to the generous augmentation by the Energy Commission, an additional 12 high schools will be funded, for a total of 24 schools.
Each high school will receive funding to purchase a Switch electric vehicle kit, which comes with curriculum for teachers to use in their classrooms. High school teachers are also paired with community college instructors from nearby schools who will serve as partners throughout the process.
High school teachers and community college instructors also attend a comprehensive train-the-trainer workshop to receive the instruction they needed to help their students through the assembly process.
Through this project and the recently completed Community College Alternative Fuel and Vehicle Technology Training Enhancement Program the Advanced Transportation and Logistics (ATL) Sector of the California Community Colleges will continue its work to grow and strengthen clean fuel transportation programs that prepare new workers for careers in this field, and train incumbents on the latest technologies.
