More than 400 Montgomery County Public Schools students in Automotive Trades and IT Foundations programs were honored at Career Day at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg for earning industry certifications, winning SkillsUSA competitions, and receiving scholarships supporting continued education and employment opportunities in automotive and technology fields.
According to MCPS, “4Over 400 students enrolled in Montgomery County Public Schools’ Automotive Trades Foundations’ (ATF) and Information Technology Foundations’ (ITF) programs were recognized for their accomplishments at Career Day at Bohrer Park. The celebration highlighted student achievements, including the attainment of industry-recognized CompTIA, ASE, and iCAR certifications, success in SkillsUSA competitions, and the awarding of the annual ATF Scholarships. The DARCARS automotive team recognized their student interns/graduates who will continue with them after graduation.
Before the ceremony, ATF Board members gathered to reflect on the programs’ successes and to offer insights and guidance for the coming year. Many members of the ATF Board stayed to present awards and/or give a few words of wisdom to the graduating students.
At the ceremony, the ATF Board of Directors awarded scholarships to three outstanding students from Edison high school. The ATF Scholarship covers the dealership fees for students accepted into the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association’s (WANADA) Automotive Dealer Education Institute (ADEI) program.
The ADEI program enables students to gain full-time employment in an automotive shop while taking courses at Montgomery College. Participating dealerships are responsible for offering a living wage, in-house mentorship, and support for coursework at Montgomery College. However, for many dealerships, these fees can be a financial burden, limiting student placement opportunities. The ATF Scholarship helps eliminate financial barriers, allowing greater flexibility for students to choose a dealership that fits their goals.
“Over the past 10 years, the ATF and ADEI programs have become the crown jewels of automotive training,” said ATF President Harold Redden. “Dealerships value the opportunity to ‘grow their own’ talent through these programs. We’re seeing students come in highly motivated, develop strong technical skills, and often rise to management positions within their sponsoring dealership. Thanks to the partnerships between MCPS, Montgomery College, ADEI, and our local dealerships, students are making seamless transitions from the classroom to meaningful careers and a vibrant post-secondary education.”
