High-school students interested in joining RCC/Ford Motor Company’s unique Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program are encouraged to attend the January 24th event
Suffern, NY (January 13, 2023) Through its partnership withFord Motor Company, Rockland Community College (RCC) offers an innovative opportunity for students to earn an associate degree as well as automotive-technology certifications while enrolled in Ford’s Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program. Now, RCC, Ford, and New York City-based nonprofit Sound Business, Inc. (SBI) are teaming up to expand the training with a similar opportunity, Ford’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program, available to high-school students at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School in Manhattan.
On Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 2:30pm on the A. Philip Randolph Campus High School campus in Manhattan, RCC will unveil its game-changing partnership with Ford Motor Company and New York City-based nonprofit SBI to provide underserved youth with a pathway to success in the booming automotive industry.
The event will feature a special informational session for the new ACE program, an opportunity for interested parents and students to learn about the program and meet key players from RCC, Ford, SBI, A. Philip Randolph Campus High School and Mount Vernon High School, as well as special guests including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYCDOE Chancellor David C. Banks. This event promises to be a transformative opportunity for high school students to jumpstart their careers in the automotive industry, and a not-to-be-missed opportunity for those looking to make a difference in the lives of underserved youth.
The ACE program, which serves as a feeder program for the Ford ASSET program at RCC, is designed to give high schoolers an in-depth look into the automotive industry and a clear path to a career. Through the program, students will study cutting-edge topics such as new model training, electric systems engineering, and steering suspension, as well as the rich history of Ford Motor Company. The courses are the same as those taken by certified Ford/Lincoln technicians, giving students a head start in the competitive field of automotive technology.
This partnership marks RCC and Ford’s first collaboration with a Manhattan-based high school and is a significant step towards providing underserved youth with access to in-demand career opportunities.
“With this partnership, we are opening doors for a new generation of young people to enter the booming automotive industry,” said Bert Shillingford, the Automotive Technology Program Director at RCC. “By providing students at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School with access to the same training as certified Ford/Lincoln technicians, through the ACE program, we are giving them a head start in the competitive field of automotive technology. We are excited to continue our collaboration with Ford Motor Company and provide these students with a path to a thriving and rewarding career in the automotive industry.”
“Rockland Community College and the FORD ASSET program have united with several high schools in the New York area. Focusing on the electric vehicle revolution underway, Ford Motor Company and Rockland Community College are creating a pipeline to success and entry into a burgeoning industry,” said Earle Mitchell, Ford Motor Company Regional Technical Support Specialist. “The students at A. Philip Randolph High School represent a first move in these interests in New York City.”
For more information contact Earle Mitchell (Ford Motor Company) at 770-776-9653 orearlemitchell360@gmail.com