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Automotive Technology Organization: ATO
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Established in 1982, the Automotive Technology Organization (ATO) has
gained status as an SAE Student Club and was awarded SAE Student Branch
status in September 1987. In the past, students have won the
"Outstanding Student" award on five different occasions. The faculty
advisor has also won the SAE Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award.
Each year since 1991, the ATO has traveled to the Detroit
area to visit major automobile corporations and automotive attractions.
This four-day event helps students see automotive career opportunities as
well as to view the area where they might work after graduation. The ATO
club is also very active in bringing corporations to the SIUC campus to
talk with students about future career opportunities.
The ATO club is an official Registered Student Organization with SIUC,
where the students hold elections for President, Vice President, Treasurer,
and Secretary. The club is very active in professional, community, and
social events. Each year, the ATO organize the following:
Spring and fall car care clinics for the public
4-day Detroit area field trip
Faculty/student picnics held each semester
Faculty appreciation banquet each December
Field trips to various automotive assembly plants each year
Trips to SAE meetings in St. Louis, Missouri
The ATO members participate in a variety of different social activities,
such as the construction and racing of the ATO racecar. The ATO members
have built a 1966 Chevy Nova with many parts that where either donated or
purchased by funds raised by student projects. Each semester, two student
drivers are elected by the ATO members to race the car at the 1/8th mile
track. Also, in the past, the ATO has hosted the "Dodge National
Collegiate Driving Championships" held at SIUC. The ATO club helps
students in many ways, such as through mentoring, tutoring, and helping
new students adjust to college life. Lastly, the ATO works as a great
recruiting tool for the automotive program as well as contributing to the
high retention rate of the students.
Community Service
The Automotive Technology program promotes community service at the student, faculty, and program
level. Students are encouraged to participate in community service through
the ATO. The ATO provides two free car care clinics each year to the
public at large. Through the car care clinic, students work with vehicle
owners and complete an inspection of their vehicle's emissions, tire condition,
fluids, belts, hoses, and lighting system. The car care clinic is
advertised in the local paper and it is free of charge. This community
service activity is very popular and, at times, over one-hundred members
of the community have participated.
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| ATO students visiting a museum on the annual Detroit Area Trip
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| Students work on car during a free auto car care clinic
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| ATO drag racing with the club car
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