Toyota executives from China visited San Jacinto College for a status report on the Central Campus’ highly-regarded Toyota Technical Education Network (TTEN) program and to tour the College’s automotive technology facilities.

Toyota executives who visited San Jacinto College include, from left (front row): Guo Jian, Qiu Lin, Wang Xiao Lan, Wang Yu, Isamu Usami, Song Ying and Yasuyuki Maurakami;. Others in attendance include, from left (back row): Rick Lester, Toyota technician development manager; Homer Swihart, San Jacinto College auto technology instructor; Steve Horton, Dean of Technical Education, San Jacinto College Central; Don Cole, Gulf States Toyota; David Norman, Auto Technology Program Manager, San Jacinto College Central; Lorena Boughton, Toyota USA representative; and Ric Menard, Automotive Youth Educational Systems Texas coordinator.

David Norman, San Jacinto College’s auto technology program manager, and Homer Swihart, the College’s TTEN instructor, spoke to the visitors about how the College is going to great lengths to meet and exceed the latest factory certification requirements.

San Jacinto College’s TTEN is widely considered one of the top automotive repair programs in the nation, with a consistently high job placement percentage for graduating students. Norman said the main reason for the program’s tradition of excellence is the solid relationship between San Jacinto College and area high schools that train students through the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) program. AYES is a partnership between auto manufacturers, dealerships, high schools and colleges to develop well-trained automotive technicians in a field requiring specialized skills. San Jacinto College’s auto technology program is highly respected in the Houston area, statewide, and around the nation, according to Ric Menard, state coordinator for AYES, who attended the meeting with the Toyota executives.

Swihart said that during the 2007-2008 school year San Jacinto College anticipates graduating a record number of TTEN students. He said another key reason for the program’s success is the continual support from the Toyota corporation. Toyota USA and local Toyota dealerships regularly donate vehicles and equipment to San Jacinto College’s TTEN program for use in student training.

For more information about any of San Jacinto College’s automotive technology programs, call 281-998-6150 or visit www.sanjac.edu/AutoTech/.