As one of the premier workforce colleges in Arizona, GateWay Community College has long recognized the positive impact industry partnerships have in benefiting its students. That fact was highlighted last week when Honda’s Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT) donated approximately $20,000 worth of state-of-the-art tools for its students.
The Honda PACT program was established in 2005 and is a partnership between Honda and GateWay to help students learn to maintain, diagnose and repair two of the world’s most popular brands of automobiles, Acura and Honda. As a partner since 2005, the most recent donation ensures that students can work on the latest vehicles, putting GateWay students ahead of the pack.
“Our students have always been some of the most well-prepared when they start their careers and enter the field,” said Mitch Miyoshi, Honda PACT instructor at GateWay. “Our strong industry partnership with Honda PACT simply ensures that our students learn on the best equipment, can service the latest vehicles, and receive preferred placement when they leave our program.”
The donation included three fully-equipped express service tool carts and other specialty service tools that were previously unavailable. During the program, students can work at local dealerships to gain real-world experience and earn wages while going to school. Additionally, graduates of the program receive preferred employment opportunities at sponsoring dealerships around the country.
“This partnership is a win-win,” added Miyoshi. “Not only do students receive preferred placement with Honda, but it also offers a fast-track career option for anyone who wants to work in this industry. It truly is a state-of-the-art program.”
The donation comes at a time when automotive technicians are in high demand and have been offered aggressive median starting pay opportunities. Coupled with its strong industry partnerships, GateWay has continued its legacy as a top-tier workforce educator. The college was recently ranked one of the top 50 community colleges in the nation for graduate earnings for a second consecutive year.
For more information about the Honda PACT program at GateWay Community College, please visit gatewaycc.edu/honda-pact.