Workforce/Trade Program

Transcript

Let’s shift gears and head to CCBC Catonsville, home to the Cardinals. Lets meet Ryan. He was able to expand on his love of working on cars and earn an Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology degree at CCBC. He now works full-time in the automotive lab at CCBC, passing his knowledge on to students. Ok Ryan, you’re in the driver’s seat, take it away. 

Thanks for the introduction Alex. When I graduated from my high school’s automotive technology program, I didn’t see myself as college material. All I cared about was working under the hood of a car. Heck, I had been working since I was 16 as an automotive apprentice technician. Then I was referred to CCBC and its unique General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program. I decided to give it a try and pursue a career as an automotive technician. I fell in love with the program, where I found myself in the company of other “gearheads” like myself. In CCBC’s automotive program, I alternated between taking hands-on lab coursework for eight weeks, then spending another eight weeks working at a car dealership, applying what I’d learned in the classroom on the job, and making money at the same time. I enjoyed it so much, it didn’t feel like I was going to college. At CCBC, tuition is very affordable and some employers offer tuition reimbursement. I was fortunate to receive General Motors Scholarships that left me with a small tuition. In addition to CCBC’s affordability, the faculty and staff surround students with support and resources. Their goal is to set students up for careers that will take them places. CCBC’s Automotive degree programs have a nearly 100 percent job placement rate for students upon graduation. After graduating, I transferred to a four-year institution in Michigan that accepted all my CCBC credits. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering Technology, and completed an internship with GM running vehicle crash tests. Today, I am back at CCBC, teaching in the Automotive program, with my hands under the hood, passing along skills to students as they hop on the road to success.Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story Alex.

Ryan, what a cool story. Your time as a CCBC student sounded amazing. You gained technical skills and hands-on work experience while also earning a degree, and you had fun along the way. Now you are helping steer CCBC students in the right direction. That is awesome. Take care.