WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Pennsylvania College of Technology is the recipient of a car that will serve as an instructional resource and a marketing vehicle.
Volkswagen Group of America and Ciocca Automotive have donated a 2018 VW Tiguan to the college. The value of the car is $21,391.
The Tiguan will be added to the fleet of vehicles Penn College automotive technology students work on to enhance their real-world repair and maintenance skills. Extensive time in seven specialized automotive labs augments students’ classroom learning.
“We are extremely grateful to Volkswagen and Ciocca Automotive for the generous donation of the Tiguan,” said Ali L. Lorson, assistant dean of transportation technologies at Penn College. “This gift will greatly benefit our automotive program, allowing our students the opportunity to explore and develop a wide range of automotive technology skills.”
The Volkswagen – wrapped in both Penn College and Ciocca branding – also will be used by faculty and staff for traveling to various college-related activities.
“With the branding, the car will serve as a visible symbol of the strong and ongoing partnership between the college and Ciocca Automotive,” Lorson said.
Volkswagen Group of America is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars. A longstanding partner of Penn College, Ciocca Automotive consists of 50-plus dealerships – including four Volkswagen dealerships – throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
“The opportunity to donate this vehicle was made possible by the investments that Volkswagen makes in the future of our industry and the people who work in it,” said Graham Horst, vice president of fixed operations for Ciocca Automotive. “Our partnership with Penn College has provided us with countless top-performing graduates as long-term employees. Our senior technicians, who act as mentors to current students and recent graduates, build on their foundation of knowledge, rather than replace it. This is due to Penn College’s program remaining current in our constantly changing industry. Ciocca Automotive will continue to be a proud partner of Penn College by supporting the staff and facilities in any way possible.”
“We are thankful to Ciocca Automotive and the Volkswagen Group of America for entrusting Penn College and our students with this generous donation,” said Shanin L. Dougherty, corporate relations officer. “Having the VW Tiguan as part of our fleet of cars will allow our students to sharpen their skills on a wider variety of vehicles.”
For information on Penn College’s automotive technology majors and other programs offered by the School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520 or visit www.pct.edu/et.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.