January 25, 2019

CHARLESTON, W.Va. A new partnership between Career Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Technology programs and Dutch Miller Automotive has been forged through coordination with the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of CTE. Students from Carver Career Center, Lincoln County High School, Putnam County Career Center and Ben Franklin Career Center started working this week at area dealerships as part-time mechanic assistants in service departments at Dutch Miller Automotive locations in Kanawha and Cabell counties.

“We at Dutch Miller Automotive are so proud of the internship partnership we have created with Career Technical Education programs in the state,” said Chris Miller, president of Dutch Miller Automotive. “We have seen with our own eyes that Simulated Workplace is developing dynamic young people ready to engage in the workforce and this is so exciting for the future of West Virginia.”

The Simulated Workplace program transforms traditional classrooms to emulate business structures, processes and expectations. With the help of business partners, classrooms and shops are turned into real-world workplace environment that give students the opportunity to take ownership of their individual performance, while thriving in an authentic workplace culture.

Nine seniors are participating in the internship program that will span the remainder of the spring semester. The internships could lead to full-time employment upon graduation and successful completion of their CTE courses. The students will be working at South Charleston Kia, Barboursville Kia, South Charleston Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Charleston Subaru and Huntington Chevy-GM.

“When Chris Miller approached me about not being able to find qualified mechanics to fill the need in his business, I knew this would be an incredible opportunity to showcase the quality of our students by putting them to work with a West Virginia company,” said Associate Superintendent of Career Technical Education Dr. Kathy D’Antoni. “The skills these students will learn during their time with Dutch Miller Automotive will complement their career technical education courses and mold them into highly-skilled workers, ready for the workforce.”

The WVDE’s CTE programs are constantly evolving and changing to better meet the needs of West Virginia’s economy by preparing a skilled workforce. Individuals and businesses interested in creating internships and partnerships should contact the WVDE at 304-558-3946.