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Show Signpost Tuesday, June 3, 1986 3 ft f' Although finals are next week, Robert Maxwell, automotive engineering student, took a test Signpost photo Jet 1 Bybee yesterday under the hood of a car. The program centers around practical experience. Automotive engineering offers by Jana Chesley Staff Reporter The automechanics trade had changed, it is not what it used to be. It is no longer taking a car engine apart, finding the problem, making the repair and putting the engine back together. Today's mechanics are finding they need to be trained in computer technology and electronics. "Such changes have been beneficial to the automechanic trade," said Richard DeMoss, associate professor of automotive and mechanical engineering at WSC. "Automechanics are now in high demand," he said. "In fact, the strongest part of our department is the job market." In June of 1985, the automotive and mechjanical engineering department had 18 graduates. There was 100 percent job placement among these graduates. On a yearly average the department has 12 graduates and a 90 percent job placement. The majority of those jobs are directly related to auto-pengine repair, while others are in auto-part sales, instructing automechanics in high schools and some are self-employment type jobs. Most of Weber's automotive students get jobs in Utah or in states along the West coast. The automotive and mechanical engineering department offers a two-year program, but students can also earn a one-year certificate. The department also offers a night school program. Those who attend night school are generally former students who feel they need to brush up on new automotive technology. The program emphasizes hands-on experience and repetition whith the classes consisting of 20 percent lecture and 80 percent concept related experience. The students are given the opportunity to use and learn about old and modern auto-repair equipment. Students work on model cars donated ot the department by surrounding Ogden dealerships and also repair cun-sumer cars in the 40-stall garage. These students receive further hand-on experience through co-op work experiences. When the student has been in the automotive program for eight months, he is sent to work directlyu with a dealership or auto-repair shop. This way the student can become more specialized in certain areas jand learn how to repair one certain type of car. "Many times our students are hired before the four week work experience is over," said DeMoss. When hired as an automechanic, these students will most likely be required to work for a flat rate. For this reason, repetition is emphasized in the program to help students with speed and accuracy. According to DeMoss, flat rates work by how long a mechanic is given to com-plet a job. If the mechanic is given 1 12 hours to complete a job and is paid $12 per hour, he will be paid $18 for completion of the job no matter how long it takes him. He is paid the same if the job takes him 45 minutes or three hours. "This may sound tough," said DeMoss, "but most of our students thrive under this situation." However, he said, the mechanic only receives 45 percent of the flat rate paid. The rest goes to the shop for lighting, heating, air conditioning ect. This causes a wide disparity in the wages a mechanic can earn. Today's mechanic can earn up to $50,000 per year while the average mechanic earns $20,000 per year. "A person really has to want to be a mechanic, because being a mechanic is physically and academically demanding and the pay is not always the greatest," said DeMoss. He said, however, that mechanics is a secure type of job. "Mechanics will always be in demand, for the fact that two thirds of our nations people drive cars and will continue to drive cars." Dignitaries present awards Spencer Kinard, news director for KSL television, will be the master of ceremonies for the Weber State College annual Crystal Crest Awards program June 7. Kinard has hosted the program for each of the program's past four years. Crystal Crest is a year-end event honoring outstanding students, faculty and alumni of the college in 11 categories. The black-tie affair gets underway at 7:30 p.m. in the Austad Auditorium of the Browning Center for the Performing Arts. Trumpeter Doc Severinsen and his five-member Fusion Band will provide the nucleus of the evening's entertainment. They will be joined by various performing campus groups and a myriad of state and local dignitaries acting as award presenters. There are 13 guest presenters, including Ambassador Mark Austad; Congressman James Hansen; Michaeline Grassli, LDS Relief Society second counselor; William Johnson, Ogden Standard-Examiner general manager; Wm. Rolfe Kerr, commissioner of higher education; John Lind-quist, owner of Lindquist Mortuary; Jane Marquardt, Ogden attourney; Marry Miller, wife of deceased WSC president William P. Miller; W. Val Oveson, Lt. Governor of Utah; Ted Wilson, former Salt Lake City mayor; Sue Marie Young, chair of the Board of Regents; Larry Miller, co-owner of the Utah Jazz; and Phil Riesen, Channel 4 news anchorman. "The students have been superb to work with. (The event) is really an entertaining evening," Kinard said. The academy award-type presentation recognizes top students, faculty and alumni in such areas as Man and Woman of the year, Talent of the year, Personality of the year, Master Teacher, Friend of the Students and others. "If you're going to honor the students, I think this is a great way to do it. Awards programs can be kind of boring, but the students have done well to not let that happen," Kinard said. The formal evening lists five finalists in each of the 11 categories, and from those fina'ists winners will be selected. The President's Ball, hosted by the Associated Students of WSC and college president Stephen D. Nadauld, will follow the awards program in the ballroom of the Shepherd Union Building. Tickets for the event are $3.50 for general admission, which includes admission to the formal dance following, or $5.50 for reserved seats. Tickets are available at all Datatix outlets or at the associated student offices at 626-6349. Better Quality Fan Better Price IB """ "ft i ,? i .' i j t V. ,. . V . ' i if - ..... HI 'A ' jt . t, . ,' Guarantee: If your diamond does not appraise in writing (within 30 days of purchase) for AT LEAST 40 more than your purchase price, your money will be refunded. 2434 Washington Blvd. Idaho Falls, Ogden, Salt Lake, Denver, and Aurora 0 |