High School Looks to Strengthen Auto Technician Pipeline Through Boot Camp

Massachusetts' MassBay Community College and Framingham High School have partnered to create an automotive technology summer boot camp aimed at strengthening the pipeline of trained technicians.

The boot camp will provide 25 recent Framingham High graduates and rising junior and senior students the opportunity to engage in a three-week hands-on intensive workshop to learn more about the automotive industry. 

“The automotive industry is facing a critical shortage of trained automotive technicians, and MassBay’s premiere auto tech program is uniquely positioned to help,” said MassBay Automotive Technology Dean David Protano. “By collaborating with our partners at Framingham High School, we are providing a comprehensive look into the automotive field, what it takes to become a tech, and how working at a dealership or independent auto shop can provide a profitable and solid career path. We hope that the students participating in the boot camp will want to continue in the automotive industry, building a strong pipeline for the local workforce.”

Creating a Curriculum Tailored Toward Auto Services

MassBay automotive faculty designed a curriculum that includes an overview of safety and tool maintenance, tire repairs and balancing, warranty and recall services, automotive repair pay scales, the diagnostic process, safety in the automotive labs, and other auto services. In addition to the free automotive classes, students participating in the program will receive a $1,500 stipend.

“I had little knowledge about cars before taking this workshop, and it has definitely changed my opinion about the auto tech industry,” said Framingham High senior, Kat Barry of Framingham, MA. “It’s an impressive program and I have learned so much in just a few days. There are so many parts and functions on a vehicle, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of the subject matter during this program. I rotated a tire today, and I’m pretty confident I could now change my own tire by myself, which are life skills I know will help me. This has definitely opened my eyes to the opportunities in the STEM field.”