Luke Jones has received two of Wayne Community College’s top awards for his program of study.
Luke, a Mount Olive resident, was presented the Outstanding Student Curriculum Award for the General Motors-Automotive Service Educational Program (GM-ASEP) and the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Student of the Year Award during the college’s annual Recognition Ceremony.
Luke’s choice to become a GM technician has resulted in some ribbing, he noted. Jones is the grandson of Elvin “Puddin” Jones, whose abilities as a mechanic, first with Wilson Motor Company then his own Jones Auto Repair, was considered by many to be unsurpassed. And his grandfather was an avowed Ford man.
“I feel like my grandfather would be very proud of my career choice,” Luke said. “He always took pride in his work and was well known around the Mount Olive area for his automotive work. He is still talked about and remembered for it to this day.”
Luke said that he had been fascinated with cars since he was a child, but following in his grandfather’s considerable footsteps meant starting with the right training. “Community college seemed like the best option to be able to pursue that interest and see if I wanted to make it my career,” Luke said. “GM-ASEP, without a doubt, set me up for a career by teaching me the skills and techniques to be competitive in the automotive field.”
“The GM-ASEP program prepared me for the job I now hold by teaching me the fundamentals and giving me the knowledge and understanding of how systems on vehicles work,” Luke said. “Through ASEP, I had access to WCC’s state-of-the-art facility and the same dealer equipment as the job I now hold to practice everyday tasks to better equip me for the workplace. It also put me in touch with great instructors, which opened the door for me to get hired where I am currently employed.”
“One of the requirements of the GM ASEP program is that students must be employed in a General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC) dealership for the duration of the program,” said WCC GM-ASEP Coordinator David Byrd.
The WBL program at WCC adds real-world work experience to classroom learning, bringing theory and application together. Plus, students get academic credit for time on the job. WCC currently has more than two dozen programs that require WBL.
Luke did his WBL at Deacon Jones Auto Park in Smithfield.
“It is one of my favorite parts of the program. It is one of the reasons I chose ASEP,” Luke said of Work-Based Learning. “You get more training and you make money while in school.”
As a WBL employee, Luke started at “the bottom rung,” responsible for such tasks as oil changes and light maintenance, but as time passed, his ability grew, said Deacon Jones GM Service Manager Trey Jones, Luke’s workplace supervisor.
Luke said that he particularly appreciated having agreed-upon objectives for his WBL performance because “both of us got to say how it was going.”
“Deacon Jones GM in Smithfield has consistently spoken of how valuable Luke is to their business during the WBL experience,” Byrd said.
Trey Jones said that Luke was deserving of the WBL award for his attitude and energy.
“He comes in ready to work. He is excited to be here. He is always doing something, going above and beyond,” Trey Jones said.
“Luke’s natural talent, along with the education he gets at WCC and hands-on experience with WBL will provide him with a promising future in the industry,” said Byrd.
Earlier this month, Luke graduated from WCC with honors and was hired by Deacon Jones as a full-time GM technician. He is considering further training in transportation areas like collision repair and refinishing or aviation systems. “While I’m young, I think I’ll get more education,” Luke said.
WCC’s Automotive Systems Technology GM-ASEP is a five-semester program leading to an associate in applied science degree. Students also earn related certifications as they study, including Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Student Certification, Snap-on Certifications, and North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles Safety and On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Inspection Licensure.
The certifications on top of the degree make WCC’s GM-ASEP graduates a hot commodity. “Those credentials speak volumes,” Trey Jones said.
Like Luke, most GM-ASEP students gain employment at the employer who sponsors their Work-Based Learning experience. Opportunities for advancement include service manager, parts manager, fixed operations manager, and more.
Wayne Community College’s GM-ASEP program is one of three in North Carolina and 51 in the country. The program is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation which ensures that the training provided meets or exceeds industry standards.
To learn more about GM-ASEP at WCC, go to www.waynecc.edu/programs/automotive-systems-technology-gm-asep/ or contact Program Coordinator David Byrd at , dbyrd@waynecc.edu or 919-739-6820.
More about Work-Based Learning options at WCC can be found at www.waynecc.edu/wbl-work-based-learning/ or by contacting Work-Based Learning Coordinator Kristie J. Sauls at kjsauls@waynecc.edu or 919-739-7063.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C.
This is really cool.
Congratulations Luke!! Your hard work has been recognized.