Students from Ripon High are earning college units for taking an automotive class.

The first-year program is known as AUTEC 311: Basic Automotive Systems.

At Monday’s meeting, Leonard Corgiat, who is the Automotive Technology instructor at Modesto Junior College’s West Campus, indicated his RHS class not only exposes his students to a college campus environment but is also worth four units.

Since August, the 16 students in his class have gained career knowledge in this field while developing their mechanic skills.

“The success of those enrolled in this class has been overwhelming,” RHS Principal Keith Rangel said.

This class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 6:50 a.m. Corgiat added that the class here is made up of two semesters, which, he noted, is the equivalent to one semester of instructions at MJC.

The RHS auto class had been in the works for about two years. “If memory serves me, Trustee (Michael) Fisher was one who pushed for it,” Trustee Chad Husky said.

Corgiat, meanwhile, had each of his students pretested to evaluate their knowledge early on.

Along the way, they learned about the safety guide along with shop safety, fire control and hazardous materials, and tool identification.

Students recently completed their drill and tap project, with Corgiat inspecting and grading each project as if it were being used in the real world.

“It’s important to be precise when working on parts for an engine,” the instructor said.

Actual work on engines will take place in the spring semester of Corgiat’s class.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.