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The Allegan County Area Technical & Education Center and The Hillside Learning Center, both operated by Allegan Area Educational Service Agency, have developed a collaborative program in which students can gain leadership and employability skills. Through this program, the Hillside students have the opportunity to detail cars at the ACATEC car lot, under the supervision of ACATEC Building and Grounds Plus Student Leaders. The Allegan County Area Technical & Education Center (ACATEC) purchased the Wheat Auto Sales lot across from the Allegan Airport, to offer an educational, student run, auto sales lot. Jon Gates, ACATEC Business Sales Facilitator, said, “This is a great opportunity for students to develop leadership as well as work-practice skills.” The students at Hillside must “earn”, with good behavior and grades, the privilege to work at the car lot. The ACATEC students received prior training in automotive cleaning to help instruct the students from Hillside how to properly wash, vacuum, and clean the interior of the cars. The ACATEC students are responsible for supervising and teaching the Hillside kids how to properly detail a vehicle. When asked what his favorite part of detailing cars was, Kevin Cook,Hillside student from Otsego answered, “I like to wash the tires and rims.” Further, ACATEC student Jordan Vanbuskirk indicated that his training at Harold Zeigler Ford helped him to prepare for the Hillside students. ACATEC Auto Sales is a business that will help students gain experience and knowledge to help them in the business world. Along with selling cars repaired by the Automotive Program, products from the Construction program, such as play houses and storage buildings, will also be sold. The ACATEC sales program will provide students with real world experience. Written by Andrew Bean & Erica Maxson, Business Connections Students |
