Icahn Automotive Group LLC has expanded its technician recruitment program to schools in Arizona and New Jersey.
The Universal Technical Institute (UTI) campus in Avondale, Ariz., has joined the Race to 2026 program, as have the Lincoln Technical Institute (LTI) campuses in Mahwah and Union, N.J. The initiative involves a national campaign to encourage and recruit more men and women to pursue careers in the skilled trades.
At both campuses Icahn Automotive remodeled classrooms with both new equipment and furniture. A current student from each campus was also presented with a $2,500 scholarship from the company. The scholarship winners included:
- Jeramy Yeagley, who expects to graduate in February 2020 from UTI in Arizona;
- Jeremy Pederson, LTI Union student;
- Sebestian Tassey, LTI Union student;
- Frank Van Althuis, LTI Mahwah student; and
- Joseph Chin, LTI Mahwah student.
“We’re passionate about offering more students the resources to forge a strong start in the automotive industry and showing them how rewarding a career in the skilled trades can be,” said Icahn Automotive President of Service Brian Kaner. “Partnerships with education organizations are essential to reach enough young people at a critical point in their decision-making process and continue to shift the perception of the automotive service technician.”
Kaner says the demand for technicians is strong in New York City, and the Race to 2026 is just the latest partnership with LTI.
“Our partnership with Lincoln Tech goes back many years, and we’ve put hundreds of skilled graduates to work in our shops. We look forward to continuing to partner with them to encourage students to become auto techs and provide them with a promising career path.”
Icahn Automotive launched its Race to 2026 program in February.
