The Auto Technology program has partnered with Mike Bass Ford and the Ford Motor Company, working to prepare students for careers in the automotive industry.
According to Jon Urbaczewski, Mike Bass Ford’s service manager, part of this partnership includes the ACE program, which was adapted into the JVS auto program over a year ago. The Ford Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program is intended to raise awareness and increase interest in the career opportunities within the automotive industry, ultimately as a service technician.
Eric Hohman, Auto Technology instructor and graduate of the program, shared how the ACE program benefits the students. “It goes over all of the new technologies that we have in vehicles - from advanced steering suspension systems to advances in electronics and engine performance. Both junior and senior students utilize the program, which is completely web-based, on their school issued iPads.”
Alex Ables, junior student from Keystone, is used to working on older cars that don’t have or need computers or scanners. “This lab and the ACE program is really helping me with my future because all the new cars have all of this technology, and I’m getting a head start with it in this class.”
Urbaczewski
also shared how the partnership includes hiring JVS students, with numerous
current and past students working for Mike Bass Ford.
Hohman said
that the auto tech program is a great step for students who want to start in
the automotive industry and get their foot in the door, whether they want to be
a technician, parts distributor, services writer or work themselves up to the management
level.
“It also helps students who want to go to a technical college,” said Hohman. “Our students already have the knowledge and terminology, so when they get into a more advanced setting and college atmosphere, it comes a little bit easier to them.”
Coming full circle is how Hohman sees it. “Being a student in this program, and now being able to teach it, I feel like I’ve come full circle. To some point, this program has made me into the man that I am today. I really don’t know what I would be doing or what path I would have gone down, if I didn’t take the auto tech program at Lorain County JVS.”