Universal Technical Institute’s IGNITE Program Offered High-Tech, Hands-on Training to Juniors Interested in Automotive Trade

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – On July 20, 2018, 29 high school students completed Universal Technical Institute’s Summer IGNITE,a free, hands-on course that gave these high-school juniors a taste of the fundamental skills they will need to train for in-demand careers as automotive and diesel technicians. Students from across Southern California, including the cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Grand Terrace, Lake Elsinore, Perris and more participated in the program at UTI’s Rancho Cucamonga campus.

“We commend these high school students for dedicating three weeks of their summer breaks to make an investment in their future careers,” said Migdalia Vazquez, president of Universal Technical Institute’s Rancho Cucamonga campus. “The opportunity to learn from seasoned automotive instructors and explore opportunities in the transportation field will give them a jump-start when they enter the workforce.”

To close out the program, students participated in a formal completion ceremony with UTI leadership, including Interim Student Services Director Jennifer Marquez and UTI Auto Tech II Instructor Mr. Ceja.

“The IGNITE Program was a great experience to help prepare me for my future career. It also showed me how important teamwork is to tackle a task like rebuilding an engine,” said Jair Palomar, IGNITE Program student and junior from Kaiser High School in Fontana, CA.

IGNITE graduates received credit toward future UTI coursework – allowing them to more quickly complete their education and begin a career in the transportation sector after they graduate from high school.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:

With more than 200,000 graduates in its 52-year history, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the nation’s leading provider of technical training for automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, and offers welding technology and computer numerical control (CNC) machining programs. The company has built partnerships with industry leaders, outfits its state-of-the-industry facilities with current technology, and delivers training that is aligned with employer needs. Through its network of 12 campuses nationwide, UTI offers post-secondary programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). The company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, visit uti.edu.