RCC and Ford Motor Company Team Up to Give Manhattan High School an Opportunity to Promote Expansion of Automotive-Industry Training Program for Underserved Youth

Through its partnership with Ford 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. 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 or earlemitchell360@gmail.com

About Rockland Community College Rockland Community College (RCC), located in Suffern New York, provides purpose driven educational opportunities in a supportive, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities. RCC welcomes students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Many graduates go on to top universities to further their education on their own or through RCCs institutional collaborations.

RCC fosters an environment that attracts, recruits, supports and retains faculty, staff, and students who value diversity. The College promotes a collegial and inclusive environment by recognizing, promoting, embracing, respecting and celebrating the expansive range and dimensions of cultures, attitudes, ideas and viewpoints contained within our campus community.

RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through a variety of programs and educational opportunities including workforce training, certifications, and microcredentials. Many of the programs are developed with employers in the community in high demand industry areas to enable graduates to move into a new career upon graduation. More information can be found at sunyrockland.edu.