Thousand of miles away from home, Japanese students took a tour of the automotive program on campus.
Hundreds of students from Nissan Kyoto Automobile Technical College in Japan piled into four classes on Wednesday, May 11 at 8:00 a.m. and others toured local dealership Infiniti.
The classes consisted of automobile instructors Rick Vasilik, Tony Baron, Brian Ferre, and Frank Voga.
The classes discussed different topics like high performance engines, history of Bonneville salt flats racing, custom pin striping and alternative fuel engine with a translator by their side.
Rick Vasilik, said, “This event is allowing engineering and automotive students from Japan to come over to visit Cerritos College and local dealership Infiniti.
“We have demonstrations on different topics. My particular one is engine performance and these seminars that are roughly about 45 minutes each. I want to encourage them to ask questions and get involved with the parts I have out on the table.”
He added, “In these seminars, I discuss the super chargers, turbo chargers, pistons, connecting rods, and things we have out on the table. I take what their basic knowledge is and I express that into a meaning that they can understand. My goal is for the students to get an experience to come to the United States.
“They get to see how the dealerships works and also our wonderful facility. We want to facilitate the automotive experience to them.”
Students get the chance to get hands on with the equipment laid out on the tables and are shown a video that discusses the topics of each class.
Student Shisui Hayashi said, “This is special because they’re things we can’t learn in Japan and I get to learn things new here in America. I choose engineering because I like cars so that is what makes me want to become an engineer.”
Students were served Japanese Bemto for lunch and later on in the day participated in a hip hop dance accompanied by the athletic trainers and students on campus.
Ron Toyota, executive director of educational program, said, “A lot of Japanese students want to come to America to work but hopefully they will continue their education. My goal is just to give these students a taste of what the automotive programs are like in America.”
