[View ALL News Press Releases] Students in Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's Automotive Technology Program will have two new Toyota vehicles to use as learning tools this Spring Semester. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., with the help of Swope Toyota of Elizabethtown, recently donated a 2004 Sienna Minivan and a 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid complete with CVT transmission and electric power steering to the program, which trains students for careers in automotive technology. The program is one of just a few in Kentucky training students on hybrid technology. "We are always happy to support ECTC's auto technology program," said Carl Swope, President/CEO of Swope Toyota. "ECTC students receive the training they need to become quality, competent employees who service our customers to our highest standards."

Les Pike, coordinator of the Auto/Diesel Technology Program at ECTC, said, "We are very grateful that Dan May, Customer Relations Specialist at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, made this donation possible for us. Our strong relationships with Toyota and the Swope dealerships make a real difference in the quality and relevance of the education and training we can provide. Technology in the automotive world is constantly changing, and it's critical that we provide our students with access to the most current technology available in the marketplace today. Our local dealerships, like the Swope Family of Dealerships, who serve on our advisory committees and support us in so many ways, play a key role in making that happen."

The two vehicles will be used to train students in the automotive technology program for many years to come, even as new technology and vehicles are introduced. "As long as people are driving cars, both new models and older ones, we need employees who are qualified to work on them," said James McAnelly, Service and Parts Director at Swope Toyota. "We are very grateful for our close relationship with the automotive technology program at ECTC."