A group of OSUIT GM ASEP students and instructors standing in an automotive lab surrounded by rows of 5.3L V-8 engines, transmissions, and three GM vehicles including a 2024 GMC Sierra, a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse, and a 2023 Chevrolet Equinox. — OSUIT GM ASEP students and instructors stand with donated engines, transmissions, and vehicles from General Motors. The new equipment allows students to train on the latest automotive technology seen in GM dealerships today.

General Motors donates engines, vehicles to enhance OSUIT’s GM ASEP Program

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Media Contact: Josh Gammon | Integrated Marketing Specialist | 918-293-5034 | josh.gammon@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology’s General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP) has received a major donation from General Motors to help ensure students are learning on the most current technology used in today’s vehicles.

Over the past six months, OSUIT has received the following from GM:

14 - 5.3L V-8 engines
2 - 3.6L V-6 engines
2 - 6-speed automatic transmissions
1 - 2024 GMC Sierra pickup
1 - 2023 Chevrolet Traverse
1 - 2023 Chevrolet Equinox

“What this does for the program is update the components that we are training our students on,” said David Penrod, GM ASEP instructor at OSUIT. “It allows our students to learn about today's products that we are seeing in the dealerships and GM customers are driving.”

Penrod explained that this support ensures graduates are ready for the modern automotive industry.

“When our students graduate having been able to train on the most recent vehicles and components, they then move into the dealership with the confidence of being able to diagnose and repair customers’ vehicles.

“These donations show that the partnership between General Motors and OSUIT is strong as we have more donations scheduled to come our way in the next couple of months, including another vehicle and various components,” Penrod said. “We rely on GM to keep us on the forefront of technology with these donations. In return, GM expects us to train technicians to meet the demands of our dealers and customers.”

Students are already putting the new equipment to use.

“The students are excited to get an opportunity to tear into the new engines and transmissions,” Penrod said. “The new vehicles are the key to the success of our students as real-world problems and diagnosis can be addressed in the vehicles.”

OSUIT and the GM ASEP team expressed their appreciation to GM for its continued partnership.

“We just want to say thank you to General Motors, National GM ASEP Manager Anthony Ratkowiak and his team for all they do for our program,” Penrod said.

Discover how OSUIT's GM ASEP program can drive your career forward. Learn more about its transportation programs and start your application today here or contact a program advisor at 918-293-4710.