(WACO, Texas) – More than 15 first-semester students in Texas State Technical College’s Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP) at the Waco campus are starting this semester to immerse themselves in the world of the Chrysler automotive family.
The end goals are for the students to gain experience in dealerships, setting them up for success after graduation.
“We supply technicians to the majority of Texas,” said Matthew Mills, TSTC’s Mopar CAP coordinator and an instructor in the Automotive Technology program.
James Ezell, of Austin, began working as a service porter at Covert Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Austin before he enrolled at TSTC. He said he expects to move into a technician-type role at the dealership once his program practicum begins later this semester.
“You get job experience while you are learning,” Ezell said. “When you graduate, you have job experience under your belt that you can list on your resume. You can make money while you are in school.”
Mackenzie King, of San Angelo, said some of her goals at TSTC include boosting her confidence in doing electrical work and getting better with mathematics.
King will be working at Allen Samuels Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Waco during her time in the program.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” she said. “I want to open my own shop. I want to make some connections, which will be good for me.”
Isaac Shorter, of Huntsville, took automotive classes when he was a student at Huntsville High School. He said he learned about TSTC and the Mopar CAP program during a college fair.
Shorter began working during the summer at Wischnewsky Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Huntsville. He said he already likes the mix of learning on campus and being able to go to work at the dealership when he is home. He said his class and practicum schedules will prepare him for life after graduation.
Shorter said his aspirations are to become a successful mechanic and eventually pursue a business degree and open his own repair shop after he graduates from TSTC.
Students who are accepted to TSTC can apply to the five-semester Automotive Technology – Chrysler Specialization program. Program students take seven weeks of classes on campus and work seven weeks at Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep or Ram dealerships each semester. They can also earn factory-specific certifications in specializations, including automatic transmissions, chassis, and heating and air conditioning systems.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.