High schoolers in Madison County are learning skills they’ll need to work in the automotive industry.
Scanning, changing brakes, and balancing tires are just some of the skills students in the auto service program are learning.
Right now, there aren’t enough people working in the automotive industry. They say this partnership between Calhoun Community College, Madison County Schools, Woody Anderson Ford, and Ford Motor Company Ace Program will get students into the workforce faster.
Isaac Herston is a senior at Hazel Green High School. He also takes automotive classes through Calhoun Community College and works as an engine tech at Woody Anderson Ford.
“I started to get a few projects of my own and started working on them and was like, I’m actually kind of good at this, so might as well learn as much as I can and make it into a good trade, and I love what I do,” said Herston.
Herston’s goal is to become a master technician, and this program is setting him up to reach his goal by the time he’s 21 years old.
Calhoun Automotive Instructor Lewis Nall said, “For our students, if they go and start an internship when they are a junior, by the time they graduate from here after two years, come to me for a year, they’ve already got three years of experience. They could work in the field for two years, have their five years, have all their stuff, be a master tech. Master techs can make anywhere from thirty to forty to forty-five dollars an hour.”
They say this program will also help students to fill some of the many automotive jobs coming to Huntsville.
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