Events
Wake Tech Instructor Named White House "Champion of Change"
RALEIGH, N.C. (November 1, 2011) - Wake Tech automotive instructor Rich Cregar has been named a "Champion of Change" by the White House and will be recognized in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, November 3. Two students in Wake Tech's Automotive Technologies program, Samuel Johnson and Devin Fowler, will accompany Cregar for a day of activities. Champions of Change is a weekly White House initiative that highlights "ordinary Americans who are doing extraordinary things" to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
This week's theme, "Make It In America," recognizes Americans who are helping to create high-quality jobs here in the United States. Cregar is being honored for his innovative leadership in the statewide Code Green Curriculum Improvement Project, designed to improve and integrate sustainability concepts and training throughout North Carolina's community college curriculum. His focus on the transportation sector has enhanced Wake Tech's ability to prepare students for success in the global transportation industry - while meeting employers' needs for highly-qualified workers.
"This is a tremendous honor," says Cregar, "and an important opportunity for me to talk to lawmakers about the resources community colleges need to produce qualified graduates for the 21st-century workforce. The recognition also highlights Wake Tech's reputation as a center for sustainable transportation education."
Cregar and the students will join other newly-selected "Champions of Change" at a White House roundtable to share best practices and identify federal resources that would help them expand their work. They will also participate in a working meeting entitled "Advanced Transportation & Workforce Partnerships." In addition, a blog written by Cregar will be added to the White House "Champions of Change" web page, along with his picture and a short bio.
In addition to directing the Transportation Sector of the Code Green Curriculum Improvement Project, Cregar serves as chair of Triangle Clean Cities. He has taught at Wake Tech since 2006 and published numerous articles on renewable fuels, advanced drive systems, and workforce development for "green" transportation. He frequently presents workshops on the production of biodiesel, clean diesel technology, vehicle emissions systems, hybrid electric drive systems, and electric vehicles. Cregar was named a GlaxoSmithKline Faculty Fellow for the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) in 2009. Cregar is an ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician with endorsements in advanced engine performance, alternative fuels, and light duty diesels. He is a graduate of the Diesel Engine Engineering Academy and the Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Engineering Academy of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Johnson and Fowler were selected to join Cregar based on their academic achievement, technical skills, an essay and an interview.
