Justin Morgan Wins Cengage Learning Jack Erjavec Innovative Instructor Award!
Charleston, SC – Justin Morgan, a Diesel & Heavy Duty Mechanics Technology Instructor at Snow College in Richfield, Utah was awarded the Jack Erjavec Innovative Automotive Instructor Award during the annual conference of the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT). Justin teaches many different courses for the college. In addition to those responsibilities, he also is the owner and mechanic at JDM Auto in Burrville, Utah.
The annual Jack Erjavec Innovative Instructor Award is granted to an instructor who demonstrates innovative and effective use of technology in the classroom. Sponsored by textbook publisher Cengage Learning, and administered by the NACAT Education Foundation, the award is a tribute to Jack Erjavec for his contributions to automotive education. Jack is the author of the best selling automotive textbook, Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach, and is the Today’s Technician Series Editor as well as is the lead author, series editor, or contributor to dozens of other Cengage books. Jack has also been an officer in many automotive-related training and education associations, including NACAT, and has been awarded numerous honors throughout his career.
Justin Morgan (front) is presented the 2015 Cengage Learning Jack Erjavec Innovative Instructor Award by Jack Erjavec (center) and Cengage Learning Product Team Manager Erin Brennan (back) during the 2015 NACAT Conference.
Justin has a BS in Technology Education from Valley City University in North Dakota. He is also an ASE Certified Master Technician in Automobile and Medium/Heavy Truck. In addition to all of that he holds a Utah Level I Teaching License with Automotive Services Technician and Heavy-Duty Mechanics/Diesel Endorsements. He has had a huge impact on the quality and effectiveness of the automotive/diesel technology programs at both Cyprus High School in Magna and Snow College in Richfield.
He truly is in touch with the types of technologies his students use and communicate with. He effectively engages students by using digital presentation materials including Cengage Learning products, his desktop computer and a projector system in his classroom. He also posts all of his class work assignments and quizzes online using a learning management system allowing students to access their assignments anywhere they have internet access. This also allows him to interact with his students when he is away from the classroom.
He creatively engages students by Snapchatting with his students (both current and former) about work he currently is doing on vehicles at his shop. Students use Snapchat to ask questions, discuss problems on their vehicles, and get advice.
Justin always works and teaches with a smile which isn’t easy when you’re working from a wheelchair, dealing with health issues due to a spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury, and trying to overcome discrimination and bias because of your disabilities. People who meet Justin, whether in the classroom or the shop, are instantly amazed at his knowledge, attitude, and abilities. He gives people, especially his students, the desire to try hard and succeed at what they are doing.
The award was presented to Justin by Jack Erjavec and Erin Brennan, editor for Cengage Learning. After meeting Justin, Jack said “Justin is such a nice, humble, and talented young man. It is very apparent he goes well beyond his duties to ensure that his students learn. I am so glad to be able to recognize him for what he does.”
NACAT Education Foundation, EIN 35-1929767, is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) organization. Formed in 1994, the Foundation’s purpose is to provide scholarships and grants primarily for the improvement of automotive education, to teachers, schools, and students of automotive and related technologies. For information, visit www.nacatfoundation.org, call 843-628-3294, or email: office@nacatfoundation.org.
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For more information:
James Curry (843) 628-3294
E-mail: office@nacatfoundation.org
Date: September 25, 2015