automotive

 

Student-Provided Automotive Services

  • Students offer a range of automotive services to help maintain your vehicle. All services are performed by trained students under professional supervision.

 

Schedule an Automotive Service  Donate to the Automotive Program

Why Automotive?

Some students find joy in solving mechanical puzzles, getting their hands dirty in the lab, and seeing their work come to life. ALA Applied Technologies’ Automotive Academy turns that passion into a clear career path. Over four years, students progress from foundational skills to advanced techniques found in the automotive industry through hands-on experiences such as:

  • Performing basic vehicle maintenance and safety checks

  • Diagnosing engine performance and electrical issues

  • Restoring custom vehicles

  • Interning with real-world automotive service centers

Students train using industry-standard tools on actual customer vehicles, gaining experience that directly connects to today’s automotive careers. Along the way, they earn recognized certifications like ASE Master Automobile Student Technician and EPA Section 609. Automotive students can also earn college credit through Maricopa Community Colleges, giving them a head start toward the workforce or post-secondary programs in engineering and automotive technology. With expert instructors and small class sizes, students build the confidence and skills to turn their passion into a profession.

 

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Automotive Technologies Capstone

ALA Applied Tech Automotive students working on the engine of a car

 

For students who want to steer their own project, this option transforms the garage into a design studio. Guided by project‑management checkpoints, seniors research a problem—turbocharging a small‑block, restoring a 1970s suspension, or coding a custom ECU tune—then plan, execute, and document every step. The year finishes with a portfolio, formal report, and live presentation to industry judges, demonstrating A‑to‑Z competency in diagnostics, repair, budgeting, and safety.

EMPIRE/CAT "Go Big" Internship

ATHS Automotive student working on car
ATHS Automotive student working on car

 

Selected students spend fall semester inside Empire Southwest’s state‑of‑the‑art Caterpillar training center. Half the time is devoted to shop protocols—safety, tooling, diagnostic software—while the other half dives deep into diesel‑engine theory and teardown labs. Spring semester moves to the floor of multiple Empire facilities, where interns rotate through real service bays, log hours in Canvas, and troubleshoot live equipment under a master technician’s eye. Successful students may be directly hired to work at Empire or receive preferential admission to the Empire/MCC Think Big apprenticeship program

Certificate Readiness

Career Opportunities

Meet the Coordinator

Erik Lambson

Erik Lambson is a well-versed automotive technician who received his Automotive Mechanics and Technology degree from WyoTech. With his extensive leadership experience and entrepreneurial skills, he has successfully managed the operations of his own auto repair shop for nearly a decade. Lambson brings immense knowledge and proficiency in automotive mechanics, technology, and repair to our Automotive Academy.

Student Testimonial

Hear from Our Students

Hear from a student and teacher about the impact of our hands-on internship program with Empire Cat. This unique opportunity helps students gain real-world experience, build valuable skills, and open doors to future careers in the automotive and heavy equipment industries.

Explore the Automotive Academy

ATHS Automotive cars on lifts
ATHS Automotive Shop
ATHS Automotive cars on lifts
ATHS Automotive cars on lifts
ATHS Automotive teacher working with students

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

ATHS Automotive Shop

Have questions about the ALA Automotive Academy? We're here to help! Contact us to learn more about our unique curriculum, experienced instructors, and how your student can gain real-world skills in this high-demand field, or schedule a campus tour today and see firsthand how American Leadership Academy is preparing the next generation of mechanics!

 

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