HCC'S JENKINS DRAWN TO AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAM
Student is only female currently enrolled

Halifax Community College (HCC) student Laura Jenkins is all about cars. The first-year Automotive Systems Technology student is currently the only female in this HCC program. She received her GED from HCC in April of this year.

Jenkins decided to enroll because the campus is close to home and she did not feel ready to attend a larger college. “I really want to stay in the area,” said Jenkins, who is the daughter of Susan and Teal Jenkins of Roanoke Rapids.

Her dream job is to work at the Advanced Vehicle Research Center. “Ever since I drove my first car, I've been interested in the program,” she added. Although she had not previously been part of an automotive program, she learned a lot from the Internet.

“More and more women are choosing careers in the automotive industry,” said Automotive Systems Technology department head and instructor Hunter Taylor. “Women are coming to realize that this is a challenging, high-tech career with both intrinsic and financial rewards. We are proud of what Laura has accomplished so far, and we look forward to continuing to help her achieve her goals.”

According to a 2005 report from the Department of Labor, about 12,000 out of 735,000 auto technicians and mechanics are women. Also, statistics show that female mechanics earn about the same as their male counterparts, as compared to lower earning percentages for women in more traditional jobs.

The two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) in Automotive Systems Technology began last year. The degree is for anyone who is serious about the automotive industry and wants to be in a position to move into management or higher-level education. AAS Degree students learn manual and automatic transmissions, automotive servicing, auto shop management, and interpersonal psychology. All of these courses are geared toward helping individuals achieve success in the automotive industry. HCC continues to offer a diploma in the field, as well as automotive systems basic and underbody certificates.
For more information about the associate's degree, the diploma or certificate programs available in Automotive Systems Technology, contact Taylor at (252) 536-7228 or via e-mail at taylorh@halifaxcc.edu, or review program details here.