Automotive Trades

Alfred State College (ASC) hosted the 2024 SkillsUSA New York State Leadership and Skills Conference Postsecondary Championship, and ten students earned the right to compete at Nationals with their performance. The event, held on ASC’s Wellsville campus, featured forty students competing in one of the nation’s most prestigious showcases of career and technical aptitude.

Farhad Begaliev (Manchester, NY) wanted to learn skills that would lead him to a rewarding hands-on career. His path led him to Alfred State and the Automotive Service Technician program where he is excited for what the future holds.

“I chose Alfred State because they have one of the greatest hands-on programs. I am not the type of person that would sit down at a desk for multiple hours. I would rather be in the shop with all this equipment and work with cars.”

Watch Farad's PioneerPROfile video

Alfred State autobody students continued to gain hands-on, real-world experience through the wreck/rebuild program funded by the Education Foundation of Alfred, Inc.

Students in the autobody repair major, led by CJ Tremper and Brad Smith, enhance their skills sets by fixing wrecking vehicles and gain insight into what it is like to work inside a collision shop. Tremper and Smith teach and work alongside students throughout their time in the program.

Alfred State motorsports technology major Quinn Scanlon (Pelham, NY) is heading to Italy to work Lamborghini races. He leaves on Nov. 10 and will be part of Forty7 Motorsports pit crew as a tire changer.

Quinn Scanlon speaks about his opportunity

“Before I got here, I had no experience participating in any sort of races. I had been to a few races as a spectator and I always enjoyed it. I thought it was a great experience to just hear all the noise and see the cars go by. It was just a great feeling.”

Finding a college that he could learn more about cars and continue his wrestling career led Benjamin Rivera to Alfred State College.

“I have grown up working on cars with my father. I really like working on cars. Alfred State had wrestling and automotive; it was a good fit for me.”

Watch Benjamin's My Major Video

Mikal Smith found his passion at Alfred State College and loves the hands-on experience he receives daily in the autobody program.

Prior to enrolling into the autobody program, Mikal had never even worked on a car. “Everything was completely new to me. I started completely nervous, but my teachers eased that feeling.” 

Watch Mikal's My Major Video

Breana Mest grew up on a dairy farm and has always been around heavy equipment. She took classes in high school that pushed her to pursue a heavy equipment operations degree at Alfred State.

“I chose Alfred because it had the most options for construction. I really liked how it was a smaller place and it was in an area I was used to. Heavy equipment operations was something that I could apply everything I have learned when I was younger to an actual career.”

Watch Breana's My Major Video

The Alfred State College (ASC) chapter of SALUTE inducted four new members, Jennifer Aul (Avoca, NY), Ryan Darrow (Webster, NY), Johnathon Helms (Portville, NY), and Matthew Proper (Perry, NY). 

SALUTE (Service, Academics, Leadership, Unity, Tribute, Excellence) recognizes academic achievement of student veterans in both two- and four-year institutions of higher education.

To qualify for induction undergraduate students must meet the following criteria:

The autobody wreck/rebuild program continues to benefit Alfred State College (ASC) students preparing for their career with hands-on education experiences.

Under the guidance of instructors CJ Tremper and Brad Smith, students in the autobody program enhance their skills sets by fixing wrecked vehicles to gain insight into what it is like to work inside a live collision shop. Currently there are six cars in the shop that are being repaired.