One look at “the shop,” as those familiar with the place refer to it, and anybody would agree that PCC’s Automotive Lab is not an ordinary classroom. Room 105 of the IT Building is home to nine different courses offered to PCC students.
Automotive Lab Technician Wendy Lucko, a PCC alumnus who has returned to work as technician, is on campus five days a week and at least eight hours a day to help students of the automotive classes.
Business management major Manny Acuna and automotives major Eddy Valencia, both taking automotive classes, said they like to come to the shop outside of class time.
“Wendy [Lucko] offers shop talks and lecturing as a side,” said Acuna. “She tells us about what dealerships are looking for.”
“It’s a side,” added Valencia. “It’s good for when you’re applying for a job.”
The new facility that one year ago was found in the former T Building is available to 320 students, the automotive program’s highest number of students enrolled yet.
Thomas McEntire, a retired professor who taught automotive classes at PCC for 37 years, is still involved in the program as an advisory member. The Honorary Director of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses still visits the shop and has chats with the current faculty and students.
“I retired in May of ’99, but I still come back,” said McEntire.
The automotive program, with its new state-of-the-art facility, prepares students for entry-level jobs as a mechanic, or as an assistant.
“You’ll definitely know more than [the average] person, but you won’t be a real mechanic [either],” said Lucko.
Acuna, the business management major, said he doesn’t see himself becoming a mechanic or technician.
“There’s just too much competition out there. There are a lot of people with years of experience [compared to] someone like me who has no experience. It’s no [contest],” he said.
So why still take the course? Acuna said he can see himself working for a dealership, even not as a technician.
“Some just take the course to learn how to take care of their own car,” said Valencia.
Even during a time with no classes, students past and present can still be found in the shop. “It’s always a mile a minute here,” said Lucko.
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