“It’s impossible to get a job at a dealership without this (program),” said senior Jacob Miller. His internship at Mansfield Auto World will transition into a full-time job next month as an automotive technician.
About 80 students are in the automotive technology program and, yes, there are a few girls.
“They really want this program to work, and it has gotten better every year,” said Bobby Frugé, assistant service manager at Chevyland on Youree Drive.
The dealership recruits and hires interns from the program every year, said Frugé, who meets quarterly with nearly local 20 service managers to discuss ways to improve the training program. Students interview with local dealerships and are selected for summer internships that often lead to full-time jobs. Strong relationships with the business community has led to more than $400,000 worth of equipment and cars being donated to the school.
The program was the first in the state to receive the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation certification, and students have competed and placed in various tournaments, including the Ford AAA in Alexandria and the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York.
Besides the bragging rights of being named the nation’s best automotive school, CC&TC will also receive: $10,000 in Chicago Pneumatic Tools; $5,000 in WIX Filters; one-day WIX Filtration Learning Experience at the school; a trip for 4 to Charlotte, NC; one-day WIX Institute of Filtration Technology and WIX Factory Tour; Joe Gibbs Racing Tour and Chicago Pneumatic tool demonstration; and Chicago Pneumatic and WIX Filters gear.
See also Rich Evans’ column this issue.
