WHAT: Rio Hondo College will celebrate the graduation of 11 new Tesla START technicians, the third cohort to graduate since the Whittier-based College became the globally recognized innovative car company’s second training partner in 2018. The new START program graduates, who have already been placed at Tesla service centers in Buena Park, Burbank, Costa Mesa, Pomona and San Diego, join 26 graduates of cohorts one and two.

WHEN: Noon Wednesday, April 24

WHERE: Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier

DETAILS: The event will begin with a lunch, followed by certificate ceremony that will be attended by Tesla Field Services Director Michael Ojaghian, Tesla Technical Training Director Nana Danso, Tesla Vocational & Trade Program Manager Tony Sciarra, Rio Hondo College START Instructor Timothy Olesijuk, Tesla NAMR Center Service Supervisor Jeff Dickman, START & Service Programs Recruiter Sarah Budriunas and Rio Hondo College Professor John Frala, who also serves as an assistant START instructor.

STUDENT PLACEMENTS: Darren Kusmoto, Buena Park; Eli Romero, Buena Park; Erik Verdayes, Costa Mesa; Grant Byers, Costa Mesa, Jain Yu Mai, Pomona; Jorge Padilla, Burbank, Josh Alcantar, Pomona; Julio Amaya, Burbank, Octavio Ortiz, Pomona; Phil Timm, San Diego-Miramar, and Trong Dang, Pomona.