Locally-owned Chariot Automotive Group (CAG) has expanded its educational program for high school students to two locations in its second year of offering the Chariot Automotive Institute’s Automotive Technician Education Pathway. The program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate in hands-on training while earning college credit toward an Associate Degree in Automotive Technology at Ivy Tech Community College.
In addition to the CAG Academy dealership in Tipton, where the inaugural class with 22 high school students attended last year, the CAG Button dealership in Kokomo is also hosting classes during this school year. This year’s cohort includes 50 students from Cass, Hamilton, Howard, Miami, and Tipton counties. The students meet five days a week for three hours per day as part of the program.
"Seeing our program grow in its second year has been incredibly rewarding,” said Rex Gingerich, CEO of Chariot Automotive Group. “We're thrilled to empower more high school students with the skills and knowledge they need for success in the automotive industry or a range of other career opportunities. This expansion shows our dedication to supporting the next generation, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come in just one year."
Students who participate in the Automotive Technician Education Pathway program earn credits toward an Ivy Tech degree, which is fully funded by Chariot Automotive Group. After completing the program, students may be offered a full-time automotive technician position at one of CAG’s five dealerships. In addition, the high school curriculum credits can be applied toward the Chariot Automotive Institute apprenticeship program, which is the only Indiana Department of Labor accredited automotive technician program in the state.
“I have learned so much from this program already,” said Maconaquah High School senior Kiera Rosenow, who is taking classes at the Button location. “There are so many moving parts and pieces when it comes to cars, so it’s been interesting to understand how all the systems work, whether they’re mechanical or electrical, and how I can get plugged in to keep them running smoothly.”
This collaboration with Ivy Tech has led to a handful of students working at CAG dealerships starting over the summer. Ivy Tech has brought on a second professor to support the second classroom experience.
“It has been great to work on this collaboration with the Chariot Automotive Group team,” said Laura Hapner, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Service Area. “We are proud to give these students a head start on their post-secondary education while they’re still in high school, which will set them up for even more success in the future.”
In addition to the Automotive Technician Education Pathway (ATEP) program focusing on high school students, the Chariot Automotive Institute includes an apprenticeship program and continuing education opportunities for all employees, which incorporate leadership development, sales training, and other hands-on skill-building programs that can be applied toward Ivy Tech certifications and degrees in technology, business management and sales.
