FutureForward diesel program receives accreditation

Staff Report

Adams 12’s career/technical programs picked up an honor for its diesel program March 28.

e AED Foundation, a non-pro t organization for the heavy equipment industry that works to improve the availability and quality of equipment industry employees announced it has accredited the high school Diesel Program at Adams 12’s two career and tech locations, Bollman and Washington Square.

Accreditation from the AED Foundation expands the career opportunities for students by developing and facilitating relationships with dealers, according to a press release.

e biggest bene t of being accredited, according to Senior Director of Workforce and Industry Initiatives at the AED Foundation Sean Fitzgerrel, is the assistance from AED WorkForce Development Coordinators who build relationships back to industry leaders and dealerships.

“ e technician shortage crisis has gotten worse, and we saw this (accreditation process) as a way to address the skills gap,” Fitzgerrel said. “If we can start getting some basics done at the high school level before going into post-secondary education, they’re better prepared going into the dealership. e most important part of all of this is having industry support. ere’s such a critical need to build a sustainable pipeline going into dealer programs or going to a post-secondary program at a college.”

Fitzgerrel added that it is vital to build awareness around the fact that there are several opportunities outside of what many students are familiar with. According to FutureForward principal, Marvin Lewis, a large part of their mission at Washington Square is to widen student’s scope of career choices.

“Years ago, counselors were counseling that you have to go to college,” Lewis said. “We support college, we have many kids that leave our program and go to college. We also support going to work right away, or if you want to get your associates degree with the college credit you’ve already earned, and we are a big military supporter.”

Lewis said the program is partnering with 4Rivers Equipment and other dealers helps create a pipeline where students can be con dent in earning a high wage, high-demand job after graduation. He said the key to building more places like Washington Square is the continual education of the quality jobs available in trades.

“To have partners that come in and help us do that, bridge the gap, and help us hold those kids’ hands as they go on to post high school and post-secondary is awesome,” Lewis said. “How we get more Washington Squares is to continue advocating that this is not `less than,’ it is not even close to `less than.’ is is high-wage, highdemand and we want to embrace that this is not even an alternative. I don’t like that word; I don’t like vocational. ese are highly skilled students that have a great future ahead.” roughout high school, FutureForward provides career counseling and hands-on learning curriculums. In the Diesel Program, students are rebuilding motors by their second year. eir work during their second year involves rebuilding motors and get into electrical systems.

FutureForward’s track to becoming a trained technician begins in sixth and seventh grade with career exploration. Lewis says they tour every eighth grader in the entire school system and talk about the di erent careers available to them.

“When they come in the rst year, they learn everything mechanical and what it takes to be a technician,” Lewis said.

“ e third year, they jump out and go work with an employer part time,” Lewis said. “All those things put them in a great space that by the time a student graduates from our Diesel Program, they are highly quali ed.”

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