Students in Nicolet College’s Auto Technician program get real-world experience

Nicolet College’s Automotive Technician program recently added to its fleet of vehicles for students to train on, thanks to the donation of a car and a truck from State Farm Insurance.

A 2013 Dodge Avenger and 2006 Chevy Silverado were both totaled by flooding, giving students plenty to fix.

“That’s exactly what makes these vehicles so valuable to us,” said Nicolet Auto Instructor Chris Kolasa. “It’s real-world training for students that provides them the hands-on skills that are so in demand in the workplace.”

Nicolet’s Auto Technician program currently has about 20 vehicles in its fleet.

“It’s important for students to work on many different types of vehicles, to see how each is different, and to give them that broad base of training that will help them be successful in their careers,” explained Kolasa, a certified ASE Master Technician with 15 years of experience working in the field and 16 years of teaching experience in the technical college system.

“The more diverse the set of vehicles students can work on, the better,” he added. “This is a fabulous donation by State Farm that will definitely benefit students.”

This is the second time State Farm has donated vehicles to Nicolet. In 2014, the insurance company donated a 2012 Ford Focus to the college.

Rhinelander Auto Salvage donated hauling services to transport the vehicles from Cudahy to the Nicolet Campus.