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Sara Heller of Rockaway, Coordinator of Raritan Valley Community College’s Automotive Technology program, was recently honored with a national achievement award as the CCAR/Electude/ASE Instructor of the Year. Heller was among 52 automotive professionals recognized on November 17 at the Fall Board of Governors meeting of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), held at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley in San Diego, CA. CCAR is the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair.

The ASE annual awards spotlight top scorers on the ASE Certification tests from among the ranks of the approximately quarter million ASE Certified professionals nationwide. Charlie Ayers, President of CCAR; Matt Bishop, Business Development Manager, Electude; Brad Pellman, Chair of the ASE Board of Directors; and Timothy Zilke, ASE President and CEO, presented the award to Heller.

“Sara, who is an Instructor/Coordinator of Automotive Technology at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, is one of the outstanding ASE Certified professionals recognized annually by different segments of the automotive service and repair industry. Each of these elite technicians is presented with an industry-specific award recognizing their achievement,” said Timothy Zilke, ASE President and CEO.

Heller, an ASE Certified automotive technician who has experience working in the automotive field, is currently in her fourth year at RVCC. She previously served as the instructor/coordinator for Middlesex County College (now known as Middlesex College) and also was an automotive teacher at numerous high schools throughout New York state. Heller received a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Queens College and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Cappella University. She also holds various licenses and certifications in the automotive field.   

“ASE has honored extraordinary industry professionals from across the nation for more than 40 years,” Zilke continued. “This is made possible by the support of our many award sponsors, whose ranks include some of the best-known names in the industry. We are proud to partner with CCAR and Electude to recognize Sara's commitment to excellence in providing the very best in automotive service and repair. This dedication is reflected in the talented professionals we recognize each year and Sara represents the best of the best.”

Thirty-three companies sponsored the individual technician recognition awards in the Auto, Truck, Collision, Parts and Service categories, along with awards for instructors. In addition to looking for top scores on ASE tests, award sponsors examine on-the-job excellence, community service, and other factors when selecting honorees. 

About the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

Established in 1972 as a non-profit organization, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a driving force in the transportation industry. As an independent third party, ASE upholds and promotes high standards of service and repair through the assessment, certification and credentialing of current and future industry professionals, and the prestigious ASE Blue Seal logo identifies professionals who possess the essential knowledge and skills to perform with excellence. Today, there are approximately 250,000 ASE Certified professionals at work in dealerships, independent shops, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools, and colleges throughout the country. For more information about ASE, visit www.ase.com.

About RVCC

Ranked by WalletHub.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey in 2022, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to  a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 6, 2022

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #58