HOUGHTON COUNTY, Mich. (WLUC) – The Copper Country Intermediate School District (ISD) will now be able educate students even further in automotive education.

The Ford Motor Company and Copper Country Ford have donated a 2012 Ford Focus to the ISD. The district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Technology program will use the car. Ford’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program made this possible.

“Ford has an outreach program for students looking to get into the automotive field when they get out of high school,” Copper Country Ford General Manager Corey King said. “Getting hands-on new technology and fixing the new technology is extremely important.”

This is the second Ford Focus Copper Country Ford has donated to the ISD for its automotive program. Students will learn all about the ins and outs of the car.

“They have assignments that they have to go through,” CTE Automotive Technology Instructor David Narhi said. “Where they’re taking components off the vehicle and putting them back on as they are learning the skills as a technician for pursuing a career field.”

Not only will students learn about the workings of Ford cars, but cars of many makes and models. The auto-tech program runs for two years. Each year is split into sections, each focusing on a specific system of the vehicle, such as brakes.

“We cover four automotive systems one year, and we cover the other four automotive systems the following year,” Narhi added. “And in the industry, when you’re certified for all eight, you’re considered a master technician.”

According to King, the ACE program is open to any high school in the area. He encourages any interested students to contact school administrators to discuss the program.

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