2023 Toyota Truck Donated to Taconic Automotive ProgramBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:31PM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
 Toyota has donated a 2023 Toyota Tundra through Haddad Motor Group for the Taconic Toyota TECS program. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Taconic High School's automotive program now has a "Thundra" pickup that students can train on.
The School Committee on Wednesday accepted the donation of the 2023 Toyota Tundra for the high school's auto technology program. The truck is valued at more than $37,300 and will increase students' knowledge of Toyota maintenance and repair as part of the Toyota TECS, or Technician Education College Support, elite training program.
"I've affectionally named this the 'Thundra,' not the Tundra, that's how we refer to it," Principal Matthew said, thanking all involved with the donation.
The nickname is a nod to Taconic's rebranded mascot, Thunder.
The vehicle was provided by Toyota Motor North America and aided by advocacy from George Haddad, owner of Haddad Auto Group.
Assistant Superintendent for College and Career Readiness Tammy Gage explained that this partnership has been in the making for decades, as the school has had an auto program since opening its doors around 1970.
In 2019, Haddad helped bring the TECS program to Taconic that allowed students to become industry-certified Toyota technicians and foster employment after graduation. This allows graduates to have credentials that make them an attractive hire at any Toyota dealer.
About a month ago, the committee accepted a 2009 Tundra from Toyota and this new model will support "leveling up" of the auto tech curriculum, Gage said.
Toyota and Lexus' T-TEN (Technician Training & Education Network) program for auto diagnosis and repair training is now sunsetting as a curriculum for Toyota and the company is unbarring the TECS program to high school students to fill the need for well-trained, certified technicians with hands-on experience.
Gage emphasized that Taconic is one of 44 locations nationwide to have the TECS training.
"So we have been successful," she said. "This is providing even more rigor so that our students in high school are going to receive the same training as students in college will be receiving."
Senior Jonah Araya Haagenson told the committee that the truck has a twin-turbocharged V8 engine that he and his peers have never worked on.
"We are also very appreciative for the Toyota TECS upgrade with our Toyota training which is going to offer a lot more opportunities with where we can go further on from Taconic," he said.
"I myself, I'm going to go to Dodge on the 18th for my co-op opportunity and I feel very prepared when it comes to going out in the industry because of the program we have at Taconic."
Because the program is a step up from what is currently offered, instructors will receive a two-day training from Toyota.
When Haddad had the vision for the program he knew that he could not hire all graduates so the expectation is that Taconic students will be equally qualified to work for other dealers and school leaders are excited about the possibilities this will yield.
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