Hewes Center students are pictured with a Cummins ISX15 15-liter diesel engine donated recently by Cummins’ Jamestown Engine Plant. Submitted photo

ASHVILLE — The Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant engineering department recently donated two late model engines and complete emissions exhaust systems to the Hewes Educational Center Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Equipment Repair Program in Ashville.

The engines are 2015 Cummins ISX15 15-liter diesel truck engines that will be used in disassembly and reassembly lessons to teach proper service procedures. They are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including variable geometry turbochargers, cooled EGR emission systems, and computer controlled common rail, high-pressure fuel injection.

The class is in the process of setting up the engine including building an engine stand and preparing its electrical, cooling, and exhaust systems. Additionally, students will be able to run the engine by controlling it with a laptop computer. The engines have a retail value well more than $45,000, and the after-treatment exhaust system parts have a value in excess of an additional $10,000.

“Experience working with the latest available equipment is something all employers demand,” said Andrew Johnson, Hewes Center diesel mechanics/heavy equipment repair instructor. “This donation provides a current platform for our students to incorporate into their practice and study. We are extremely grateful for Cummins’ interest in our program and this valuable equipment.”

The Hewes Center also has a working relationship beyond it’s Ashville classroom. Students participate in an internship program each spring where they work and learn beside workers at the Jamestown plant. It’s one more step to creating a successful future in the design, operations, and repair aspects of the field of diesel mechanics.

“The demand for knowledgeable, skilled diesel technicians continues to grow in the United States,” Johnson said. “The rigor and intensity of this course prepares students to continue their education at two or four-year colleges, or enter the workplace upon their graduation.”

The Hewes Educational Center offers 13 two-year CTE programs to high school juniors and seniors providing experience and technical knowledge in specialized fields while earning a Regents Diploma. They also complete three-week internships at local businesses, organizations, and agencies related to their program. Students who complete the requirements of their programs receive a Technical Endorsement on their diploma and are prepared to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation or pursue advanced levels of study at post-secondary educational institutions.

For more information on the Diesel Mechanics/Heavy Equipment Repair program offered at the Hewes Center, visit www.e2ccb.org.