The Salvadore Family, owners of Salvadore dealerships in Gardner, donated $100,000 to fund several Automotive Technology program scholarships at Mount Wachusett Community College.
On Thursday, Nov. 30, MWCC Auto Tech department chair Eric Almeida gave a tour of the MWCC Auto Tech center to Angelo Salvadore, owner of the family-operated dealership company in Gardner.
Salvadore said he went to trade school himself, so he understands the importance of an education and wants to provide opportunities for others.
“Many people are looking for jobs in the automotive industry, but they are not qualified,” he said. “This donation is to create more employment opportunities in the community.”
Last year, the college bought the building at 42 Linus Allain Ave, which is now the Auto Tech program center. MWCC Foundation Director Carla Zottoli said the auto tech department has worked to expand the program and continues to do so as more people are applying to it.
Automotive program has tripled
Last year, the program only had 17 students enrolled; this past fall, the program had 45 new students, Zottoli said. The college also started a new dual enrollment program with Gardner High School this fall, giving 14 high school students the opportunity to get college credit in an auto tech course.
“What this donation can bring to our students is significant because the Auto Tech program is growing fast,” Zottoli said. “This donation can give the opportunity to many current and new students to cover the cost of tuition so they can continue in the program.”
Zottoli said the donation will be distributed as full or partial scholarships to students who need help paying tuition.
The program has a lot of expenses, said Almeida, so every donation given to the center makes a huge difference. He said the program has never received such a large cash donation and knows it will help many students.
“Our students depend on these kinds of donations to be able to attend the program,” he said. “The generosity of the Salvadore family will make a huge difference.”