Santiago High School’s Automotive Program Receives a New Set of Wheels

Santiago students, teachers and administrators after winning an automotive competition.

Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) students in Santiago High School’s Automotive Technology Career Pathway program now have a state-of-the-art vehicle to work on thanks to the Orange County Auto Dealers Association (OCADA) and KIA Motors, who recently donated a brand new Kia Stinger to the program as a result of Santiago students’ first place finish in a county-wide competition earlier this year.

“We are grateful for the generosity of OCADA and their dedication to helping strengthen career and technical education in our schools,” said Walter Muneton, GGUSD Board of Education trustee. “This donation will help students develop in-demand skills that will prepare them to work in tomorrow’s automotive industry.”

This is just the latest incentive the auto program, led by teacher Carlos Sanchez, has received as a result of outperforming 120 students from districts across the county and taking first place in the OCADA High School Automotive Competition held at Kia Motors of America this past February. Students also earned a trip to New York to represent the county in the National Automotive Technology Competition held during New York International Auto Show.

The Santiago High School automotive program is just one of many Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways offered by GGUSD, which offers rigorous and relevant pathways that prepare students for college and careers in high-skill, high-demand industry sectors.