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Oklahoma’s Technology Centers receiving the vehicles are Autry Tech, Enid; Canadian Valley, El Reno; Eastern Oklahoma County, Choctaw; Francis Tuttle, Oklahoma. City; Gordon Cooper, Shawnee; Great Plains, Lawton; Indian Capitol, Muskogee; Kiamichi, McAlester; Meridian, Stillwater; Mid-Del, Midwest City; Metro Tech, Oklahoma City; Moore Norman; Northeast, South Campus, Pryor; Pioneer, Ponca City; Southwest, Altus; Tri County, Bartlesville; and Tulsa Tech, Broken Arrow and Lemley campuses.

“This is another great example of a successful partnership between business, industry and education for students and the future workforce,” said Dr. Phil Berkenbile, CareerTech state director. “We really appreciate GM, again as a partner, in the effort of providing top-of-the-line vehicles and equipment for training our automotive technology program students.”

The vehicles were in the General Motors Assembly Plant lot during the May 8, 2003 tornado and are part of an asset recovery, according to Tyree Minner, plant manager.

“GM’s decision to rebuild our plant after the tornado and to donate the tornado-damaged vehicles to be used for training Oklahomans is evidence of GM’s commitment to this state, to its people and its future,” said Minner.

Dennis Ruttman, left, CareerTech state program administrator for Trade and Industrial Education and Matt Boyles, OK-AYES State Manager are shown with CareerTech State Director Dr. Phil Berkenbile as he signs the document releasing the vehicles to the technology centers.

Envoys and Trailblazers lined up and ready to go to technology centers across Oklahoma.

With a partnership between General Motors and the CareerTech system that spans decades, the decision of the Oklahoma City GM Plant to donate approximately $800,000 worth of vehicles to the CareerTech system was easy, according to Bob Slovey. Slovey is the Automotive Service Educational Program and Automotive Youth Educational Services Program (ASEP/AYES) national manager.

“We know how important these resources are to the training programs. Without them it is just not possible to offer a quality curriculum or learning environment for our future auto technician labor pool,” said Slovey.

General Motors has a track record of contributing to training programs that are preparing future service technicians in Oklahoma and across the country, thanks to another partnership with Gifts in Kind International.

General Motors, in concert with the CareerTech system, launched a significant initiative in 1995 when Oklahoma’s CareerTech system was selected by GM to pilot what is now known as the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES).

“ AYES is a dynamic partnership among participating automotive manufacturers and local dealers, and selected local high schools/tech centers,” Tadajewski said. “The goal is to encourage bright students with a good mechanical aptitude to pursue careers in the ever-changing fields of automotive service technology or collision repair/refinish, and to prepare them for entry-level positions or challenging academic options.”

Since AYES was founded by General Motors, 12 other automobile manufacturers have partnered supporting AYES, including Audi, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Honda, Hyundai, KIA, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Earl Bailey, automotive service technology instructor at Francis Tuttle Technology Center with a donated GM car.

Collision Repair Technology student during the 2004 Skills USA competition.

The initial launch of the AYES program took place at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City and was quickly followed by four more technology centers. The program, recognized today as a national model, serves 19 of 29 technology centers in Oklahoma and across 45 states.

“AYES was designed to fill the gap in the auto-repair workforce needing to grow nationally by 35,000 workers and technicians a year for the next decade,” said Roger Tadajewski, the national manager for AYES who offices at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City. “GM is still a major contributor to the program.”

The long-term relationship between Oklahoma’s CareerTech system, whose mission of preparing Oklahomans to succeed in the workplace, and GM, benefits both organizations.

In late 2003, GM contributed 40 engines worth $3,000 each and 80 four-cylinder engines worth $2,500 to Oklahoma AYES for re-donation within the CareerTech system, according to Matt Boyles, Oklahoma AYES State Manager.