When asked what he thought about the American sports car sitting in the East Westmoreland Career and Technology Center's motor bay, McKinley Firestone had a hard time hiding his excitement.
“I love Ford, and I’m glad they still make V8 Mustangs,” Firestone, an EWCTC senior, said with a big smile. “I'd like to buy it.”
The 2024 Ford Mustang was donated through Ford Motor Company's Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program and Tri-Star Motors Blairsville.
A Mustang donated to EWCTC was recently damaged by flooding at a storage facility in Detroit, said Rob Young, Ford's technical placement specialist.
Michael Wortman, an automotive technology teacher at EWCTC, said he was shocked to learn that TriStar had selected his program for a new vehicle.
“I couldn't believe it at first,” Wortman said.
The brand new Mustang will give students hands-on experience with the latest technology, complementing the work they do in the classroom and online through ACE.
“We can use this vehicle to point out, show and teach the latest technology,” Wortman said. “I could be on the screen all day long, but there’s nothing like walking out here and opening the hood and touching the tools, touching things, pointing at them.”
Wortman said when the students in the class learned they had the opportunity to get a performance car at their store, they worked harder to make it happen. In addition to coursework requirements, students worked on optional assignments through ACE, Wortman said.
Tri-Star, which sponsors the EWCTC program through ACE, considered student achievement and high levels of program participation when deciding where to donate the vehicles.
“We're always asking manufacturers for cars that have been bought back through the Lemon Law or that can be donated,” said Tom Kowaleski, director of fixed operations for TriStar.
Kowaleski said TriStar has donated at least 20 cars to programs like EWCTC over the past few years.
Mr. Kowaleski also mentioned the need for students to be able to familiarize themselves with the latest automotive technology when they go to shops like his.
“They'll never see this,” Kowaleski said, pointing to an older model pickup truck he was rebuilding. “But they're going to see this (Mustang).”
In addition to the donated 2024 Ford Mustang, the EWCTC program is also working on a newer all-electric Ford Mustang.
New model vehicles provide students with an understanding and familiarity with vehicles that increasingly incorporate computers and sensors.
As the inside of the vehicle becomes more integrated with satellites and mobile phones, and the outside of the vehicle becomes more and more “eyes on the road” supporting lane assistance and self-driving technology, the job of a mechanic will merge with that of IT. . help desk.
If your headlights burn out, the culprit is probably the radio or firmware update, not the bulb, Wortman said. These updates can be done by a technician in-store using a laptop, or wirelessly from the comfort of your home.
As technology grows exponentially, training the next generation of auto mechanics has become a collaborative effort between auto manufacturers, dealers, shops and education programs.
By contrast, it can take a high school graduate five to seven years to become a Ford master technician, Young said.
But with Ford's ACE program, students can access the same web-based training as technicians, reducing turnaround time. Young said students enrolled in programs like EWCTC that incorporate ACE can become master technicians in as little as three years.
“In this unique environment, they can get a really big jump start,” Kowaleski said.
Kowaleski and Greg Turchetta, TriStar's vice president of operations, said even though programs like EWCTC can produce skilled technicians faster, it's still difficult to keep up with industry demand.
Automotive technology courses not only provide a path to Ford certification, but also allow students like Firestone to earn state certification in emissions and inspection before graduation.
Wortman said that while grades are important in school settings, he also believes there is great value in having students earn these qualifications.
“In the eight years I've been here, I've never had an employer call me and say, 'What is this student's grade point average?'” he says. “They call and ask, 'How's your attendance?'” Will they show up? Are they reliable for you?
Turchetta agreed with Waltman. He and his Tri-Star team are looking for employees who are trainable and reliable to serve customers well.
TriStar employs two EWCTC seniors at its Chevrolet and Kia dealerships and said the students who graduate from the program are outstanding.
“The young people we bring together through these programs are our farm team,” Turchetta said.
He added that having access to ACE gives EWCTC students a clear path to create for themselves and go as far as they want.
Ligonier's Firestone said he loves what EWCTC and ACE have taught him over the years and how they have prepared him for the industry as a whole.
“They are Ford-specific, but they help you learn industry-based (practices),” he said. “But if you go to work at a Ford dealership, you can make a leap forward.”
