Clark College Automotive students receive gift from Dick Hannah Dealerships

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
For Immediate Release
December 13, 2016

For additional information:
Hannah Erickson, Communications & Marketing
T: 360-992-2954 E: herickson@clark.edu

The Hannahs will officially present the gift on Dec. 15

VANCOUVER, Wash. – On Thursday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m., the owner of Dick Hannah Dealerships will present toolboxes to students from Clark College’s Automotive Technology program. This generous donation will allow these students to complete their degrees through the college’s popular Dealer Ready Automotive Technology programs, saving each student an estimated $4,000 in equipment costs.

“Dick Hannah Dealerships has been an amazing partner with our program, and this donation shows their commitment to the success of our students,” said Clark College automotive instructor Brian Tracy, who teaches in the Dick Hannah Initiative for Technician Education at Clark College (HiTECC). “It also shows the confidence they have in our students.”

Earlier this year, Clark College began partnering with Dick Hannah Dealerships to create an innovative program in which students complete their coursework while also working at paid internships in Dick Hannah Dealerships facilities. These students graduate with both technical expertise and on-the-job experience—making them valuable employees in today’s competitive job market. While the paid internship helps defray the costs of attending college, this donation removes a major economic hurdle to students completing their degrees. The donation is not an outright gift—students will be able to use the tools, free of charge, to complete their two-year degrees, and will receive ownership of them after successfully graduating from the program and working at a Dick Hannah Dealership for six months.

“We are so excited to partner with Clark College in the development of the HiTECC program. HiTECC is a fantastic example of the ways in which local businesses can partner with community institutions to the benefit of everyone,” said Jennifer Hannah, Vice President of Dick Hannah Dealerships. “HiTECC students will emerge from the program not only with a degree from Clark College, but with full-time employment and job skills that will sustain them for a lifetime. We look forward the continued partnership with Clark College and the ability to offer this opportunity to more and more interested Clark College students as we expand the program.”

The official presentation of the tools will take place in the 14,000 square-foot Automotive Technology teaching facility in Building AA-1 on Clark College’s main campus. Guests will include: Dick Hannah, President of Dick Hannah Dealerships; Clark College President Bob
Knight; Vice President of Instruction Dr. Tim Cook; Clark College Automotive Technology faculty and students; and a representative from the Clark College Foundation.

About Clark College

Located in Vancouver’s Central Park and serving up to 13,000 students per quarter, Clark College is Washington State’s second largest single-campus, for-credit community college. The college currently offers classes at two satellite locations: one on the Washington State University Vancouver campus and one in the Columbia Tech Center in East Vancouver. Additionally, its Economic & Community Development program is housed in the Columbia Bank building in downtown Vancouver.

About Dick Hannah Dealerships

Family owned since 1949, Dick Hannah Dealerships is dedicated to providing excellent customer service, maintaining a positive and productive work environment, and conducting business in a way that promotes the highest principles of integrity and ethical behavior. Dick Hannah Dealerships feature franchise auto dealerships selling and servicing both new cars and used cars through their Acura, Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen Dealerships. As one of the largest privately owned auto dealer groups in the state of Washington, Dick Hannah Dealerships is also setting the standard for environmental best practices for automobile dealerships. Teaming up with the National Arbor Day Foundation, Dick Hannah Dealerships plants a tree with every car they sell. So far over 130,000 trees have been planted. To learn more visit www.dickhannah.com.

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