Auburn is one of 50 high schools in eight states to receive a $10,000 grant from the Ingersoll Rand Foundation to fund improvements to its automotive technology programs.

The Ingersoll Rand Real Tools for Schools program awards high schools $10,000 grants to provide students in automotive technology programs updated equipment, supplies, instructor training and curricula.

Auburn will use its grant to upgrade or replace a cylinder leakage tester, a smoke leak detection system, a transmission jack, a gas analyzer, compression gauge sets and a welding machine.

Auburn has had an automotive technology program since the 1950s. Its 16-bay shop is the largest in Washington, and the program exposes students to all nine areas of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) training. Students may take ASE tests so they have job opportunities waiting for them when they graduate. Nearly 50 students coming from all of Auburn’s high schools are enrolled in beginning or advanced automotive technology at Auburn High.

“These students are the future of the automotive industry. Ingersoll Rand supports technical education because it prepares students for career success and enhances job readiness,” said Austin Lieb, vice president of product management at Ingersoll Rand Power Tools.

In addition to the grants, Ingersoll Rand Power Tools employees engage with high schools to provide seminars, hands-on training and learning enrichment experiences for students enrolled in automotive technician programs. Students from Auburn recently toured the Ingersoll Rand facility in Kent.

Elsewhere

Auburn’s Megan Bass was recently named to the Biola University Dean’s list for academic excellence. Biola students are placed on the list to honor those with a grade point average of 3.60 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credit units, and whose cumulative grade point average is at least a 3.20.