Volkswagen Donates Atlas SUV to SUNY Canton’s Automotive Technology Program
The newest vehicle in SUNY Canton’s Automotive Technology fleet was donated by Volkswagen of America.
Students can now practice their skills on a 2018 Atlas and have already pulled the full-size SUV into the college’s state-of-the-art lab to perform diagnostic testing.
Canton Atlas – Students in SUNY Canton’s Automotive Technology lab stand with an Atlas donated by Volkswagen of America. The 2018 SUV is the newest car in the fleet of automotive test vehicles.
“These vehicles will be essential in assisting the next generation of Volkswagen technicians to interact with and learn the latest technology that is part of our exciting model lineup,” said John E. Peterson, Volkswagen director of fixed operations, who serves as an advisory board member for the college’s Automotive program and is a 1981 alumnus.
SUNY Canton Associate Professor Brandon J. Baldwin said late-model donations play an imperative role in education, especially with significant advances accompanying each new model year.
“Modern vehicles allow students to earn their professional certifications on cars that they will see in the field,” he said. “It truly benefits the dealers to expose their future technicians to the latest vehicles available. We thank John Peterson for taking an active part in aiding in the development of our program.”
New Wheels – Pictured (l to r) are SUNY Canton Associate Professor Brandon J. Baldwin assisting Automotive Technology student Keyan L. Deom of Watertown. Deom is taking a voltage reading from a newly-donated Volkswagen Atlas SUV.
The donation was part of the automaker’s “Drive Bigger” initiative. SUNY Canton was one of three colleges in New York to receive an Atlas and will be collaborating with area dealerships on supplemental assistance and instruction.
According to the manufacturer, the vehicle allows students to train on Volkswagen’s Offboard Diagnostic Information System used to identify issues and perform updates.
As Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs, SUNY Canton delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, management, and healthcare fields. It is home to the Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY's leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 23 online degree programs. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also features varsity esports and cheerleading.