Columbia City High School

Whitley County Consolidated Schools is celebrating the outstanding first-year success of its Automotive Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, a groundbreaking partnership with City Automall.

The innovative program demonstrates significant achievements, with students successfully obtaining Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certifications, a critical credential in the automotive industry. The program's immediate success has resulted in full enrollment for the upcoming school year, highlighting the strong interest and potential in automotive technical education.

"We are incredibly proud of our students and the exceptional instruction provided by Mr. Chris Cuney. This program represents our commitment to providing students with practical, industry-recognized skills that directly translate to career opportunities," said Jennifer Reiff, Director of Innovation and Career and Technical Education. 

In the first year, the 21 students collectively earned 99 ASE Certifications and 341 Ford, Lincoln Certifications through the New Ford Tech Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program after completing the classroom curriculum and applying their skills in the technician bay at City Automall. 

Student Carter Copeland has a 100 percent pass rate for all of his certification tests. As a senior, Carter is grateful for the automotive program at CCHS and plans to find a career in the automotive industry. 

“I’ve wanted to go into this career field for a long time because I enjoy working on my own cars and I even recently bought two more to work on,” said Carter Copeland, Senior at CCHS in the Innovation Academy. “The experience was good and I enjoyed learning so close to the school.”

Donated by City Automall, the Automotive CTE building was an existing building on the automotive group property that was changed into a classroom and technician bay with a full lift and equipment needed for hands-on, real-world automotive training. 

“As we mark the one-year anniversary of our partnership with Whitley County Consolidated Schools' Auto Technician Program, we are proud to reflect on the progress we've made together in building a brighter future for local students. This collaboration aligns with our vision of creating trade-specific career paths that equip today’s youth with the skills and opportunities to enter the workforce with confidence—and achieve higher career earnings—right out of high school.

Over the past year, we've had the privilege of hosting students at our facility, giving them real-world, hands-on experience in automotive repair. It's been incredibly rewarding to see them discover their passion and potential within this field. Our contributions—including powertrain components, shop equipment, training facilities, and disabled vehicles—have allowed these aspiring technicians to learn not just the technical aspects of how vehicles function, but to truly understand the systems that drive performance and reliability.

We are grateful for the strength of this partnership and excited to continue supporting the next generation of skilled tradespeople through hands-on education and career-building experiences,” said Kasey Shirey, Partner City Ford/City Chevy.  

“It was a good experience and there is a lot to learn in automotive. If you have an interest in automotive and want to learn something, it’s a good class,” said Reid Hale, Junior at CCHS in the Innovation Academy, who encourages other students to take the pathway. 

Mr. Cuney, the program's lead instructor, has been instrumental in developing a comprehensive curriculum that bridges classroom learning with professional automotive expertise. His industry experience and dedicated instruction have been crucial to the program's success.

"Our goal is to prepare students for successful careers in the automotive industry. These certifications open doors to immediate employment and ongoing professional development. We are grateful for City Automall’s space and their willingness to create this successful partnership," said Mr. Chris Cuney, CTE Automotive Instructor. 

The Automotive CTE program demonstrates Whitley County Consolidated Schools' innovative approach to workforce preparation and career-focused education.

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About Whitley County Consolidated Schools
Whitley County Consolidated Schools (WCCS) is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that empowers all students to achieve their full potential. Serving Columbia City and surrounding communities, WCCS believes in fostering a learning environment that promotes academic excellence, personal growth, and character development. With a commitment to innovation and collaboration, our district offers a diverse curriculum, dedicated educators, and state-of-the-art facilities designed to inspire and engage every learner. Through partnerships with families and the community, WCCS strives to prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world. For more information about our schools, programs, and initiatives, visit us at www.wccsonline.com.