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SWCC Student Wins I-CAR Tool Grant

May 14, 2010, CRESTON, IA--Southwestern Community College (SWCC) collision repair student John St. Denny has been named the winner of the I-CAR Education Foundation’s 2010 Craftman Tool Grant.

Denny was selected for the grant after writing an essay about his goals in the collision industry. As the grant winner, Denny receives a 268 piece mechanic tool set, a Craftsman 7-piece fiberglass handle body and fender repair tool set, and a Craftsman 20-piece super-duty punch and chisel set.

Denny, a 2009 graduate of Clarinda High School, is completing his first year of SWCC's collision repair/refinish program. He will receive his diploma in collision repair/refinish in June. Denny will return to SWCC in August for the second year of SWCC's collision repair/refinish program.

SWCC Automotive Department Receives Donation

NOVEMBER 9, 2009--Southwestern Community College recently received a donation from 3M™ through the I-CAR Education Foundation. With the gift, the college received 3M™ Dent Filling Compound and an Applicator Gun for the Dynamic Mixing System.

According to Jeff Magneson, SWCC collision repair/refinish instructor, the gift is valued at approximately $4,000.

Shown in photo at right (L to R): SWCC students John St Denney and Cody Fisher, both of Clarinda, pose with the 3M™ donation.

SWCC Marketing Creates Poster Featuring Recent Collision Repair Contest Winners

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
 

Southwestern Automotive Student Places Sixth at National Contest
CRESTON, June 2009 — Clay Mercer of Corning, representing Southwestern Community College (SWCC), placed sixth in automotive refinishing at the National SkillsUSA 2009 competition held June 22-25, 2009, in Kansas City, MO.  Mercer qualified for nationals by placing first in statewide competition held in Ankeny this spring.  Mercer graduated from SWCC in May with his associate of applied science degree in collision repair/refinish and received his diploma in June for auto repair technology.

During the national competition, Mercer and other contestants were asked to demonstrate hands-on skills such as panel painting, spot/blend refinishing, masking, and color analysis; write a damage estimate; complete a 75-question ASE-style (Automotive Service Excellence-style) exam; and submit a current resume.

Mercer, a 2005 Corning High School graduate, is the son of Doug & Janet Mercer of Corning.

Southwestern is one of 11 community colleges in Iowa with an automotive collision repair program.  SWCC’s collision repair/refinish program is one of two programs in Iowa to have the ASE (The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence)/NATEF (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation) certification and the only program in the state to have the I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) Gold Class designation.  SWCC's collision repair/refinish program is based on the I-CAR Enhanced Delivery curriculum and offers hands-on experiences in the classroom.  Courses are taught by ASE-certified instructors who have platinum level I-CAR designations.

Southwestern Automotive Student Headed to National Contest

MAY 14, 2009, CRESTON — Clay Mercer of Corning, a Southwestern Community College sophomore, recently placed first in automotive refinishing at the Iowa SkillsUSA 2009 competition in Ankeny.  Mercer, who is finishing his second year in SWCC’s collision repair program, is now eligible to compete at the National SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, MO, June 22-25, 2009.

During the statewide competition, which was held during SkillsUSA’s Statewide Leadership Conference at Des Moines Area Community College in early-May, Mercer was asked to demonstrate hands-on skills such as panel painting, spot/blend refinishing, masking, and color analysis; write a damage estimate; complete a 75-question ASE-style (Automotive Service Excellence-style) exam; and submit a current resume. Mercer was nominated by his instructors for a state leadership award as well.  SWCC's automotive instructors received word after returning home from competition that Mercer received the leadership award and an academic award.

Mercer, a 2005 Corning High School graduate, is the son of Doug & Janet Mercer of Corning.

Cody McCunn of Elliott, a SWCC second-year collision repair student, also fared well in the Iowa SkillsUSA championships bringing home third-place honors in the collision repair competition.  Like Mercer, McCunn received the competition’s academic award.

McCunn, a 2001 Griswold High School graduate, is the son of Tony McCunn of Red Oak and Becky Keith of Mountain Center, CA.

According to Jeff Magneson, SWCC collision repair instructor, the SkillsUSA competition gave SWCC students opportunities to compete against the best-of-the best from Iowa’s community colleges. 

This was the first time Magneson had taken students to the SkillsUSA contest.

Southwestern is one of 11 community colleges in Iowa with an automotive collision repair program.  SWCC’s collision repair/refinish program is one of two programs in Iowa to have the ASE (The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence)/NATEF (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation) certification and the only program in the state to have the I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) Gold Class designation.  SWCC's collision repair/refinish program is based on the I-CAR Enhanced Delivery curriculum and offers hands-on experiences in the classroom.  Courses are taught by ASE-certified instructors who have platinum level I-CAR designations. 

SWCC's Collision Repair/Refinish Program is now SkillsUSA Professional Member

APRIL 10, 2009, CRESTON--Jeff Magneson, Southwestern Community College collision repair/refinish program instructor, recently established status as a professional member of SkillsUSA.

Within SkillsUSA, students can acquire academics, technical skills, and employability skills to become true SkillsUSA Champions at Work.  SWCC students will compete annually in SkillsUSA competitions.  

SkillsUSA has served more than 9.5 million people since 1965.  Through their integrated student programs, competitive events, and leadership training, SkillsUSA helps educate tomorrow's skilled workers to meet the demands of the changing workplace.

SWCC’s Automotive Programs Receive National Certification

CRESTON — Southwestern Community College’s automotive collision repair/refinish program recently received recognition for its quality and excellence through I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair), NATEF (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation), and ASE (The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence).  SWCC’s program is one of two programs in Iowa to have the NATEF certification and the only program in the state to have both the certifications and the I-CAR designation.

To achieve these coveted certifications/designations, SWCC’s collision repair/refinish program underwent rigorous evaluations.  The program was evaluated and rated on standards of excellence in areas such as instruction, facilities, and equipment.  Through I-CAR, SWCC is rated as an I-CAR Gold Class Professional. With NATEF, SWCC has achieved the highest level of achievement recognized by ASE—the ASE Master certification.

Jeff Magneson, SWCC collision repair/refinish instructor, has been key to SWCC’s certification achievements.  According to Dr. Linda Wild, SWCC vice president of instruction, “Jeff’s leadership and commitment to providing quality curriculum have taken SWCC’s collision repair/refinish program to the next level.”  Wild continued, “The students this program is graduating are highly employable not only in the Creston area, but throughout the region.”

With the certifications and designation in place, Magneson says SWCC students will be assured of a quality education, and shop owners will be assured of getting quality job applicants.  Most employers are now advertising for I-CAR and/or ASE-certified technicians, according to Magneson.  With these certifications in place, SWCC graduates will now have both.

Our students will have such a leg up on the competition,” Magneson stated.  “A lot of their work is done by the time they complete our program.”

As an instructor, Magneson has strived for individual certifications as well.  Magneson has recently achieved the I-CAR Platinum Level designation as a combination lead collision repair/refinish Instructor.  He is also an ASE master collision repair/refinish technician.

SWCC offers one-year and two-year collision repair/refinish programs.  Students completing the one-year program receive a diploma at completion and students who return for the second year receive their associate of applied science degree.  Each year, the college has approximately 16-19 first-year students and 8-10 second-year students.

I-CAR is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to research, develop, and deliver quality technical educational programs on collision repair, thereby raising the level of available knowledge and improving communication throughout the collision repair, insurance and related industries, for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

NATEF has been in place since 1978.  It is a 501 (c) (3) foundation, which develops and administers an evaluation plan for automotive training programs.  NATEF recommends automotive training programs for ASE program certification.  The primary goal of certification is program improvement.