Page 16 - TTMNWinter2025
P. 16

Automotive
        Page 16                                                                                                Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

                     Moorhead Career Academy’s Transportation Program Honored

                     Named Exemplary Secondary Program of The Year by the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence
                                               This  award  showcases  secondary  pared to succeed in the changing workforce,”   shop, pursued an education degree online, and
                                            level  transportation  programs  that  serve  as   said the community outreach coordinator for   helped his parents retire from farming.
                                            exemplary  models  of institutional  support,   the career academy.        In the fall of 2017, Chantz began teach-
                                            instructional  leadership,  and program-wide   “Philanthropic  support from  the  busi-  ing at Moorhead High School, diving headfirst
                                            excellence.                         ness community extends our reach for forward   into  reforming  and growing the  automotive
                                               The  MHS Career  Academy  is chang-  thinking  school programming  and aligns   program. He moved away from the tradi-
                                            ing the way students approach  high school.   future talent pools with business need,” said   tional ASE curriculum,  which  was delivered
                                            Based on industry and professional standards,   Superintendent Brandon Lunak.  in 3-ring binders and had a history of excel-
                                            the  program  offers unparalleled  experiential   Chantz Rud is the Automotive Instructor at   lence,  but no longer suited students with
                                            learning  about careers  and self. Partnerships   the Moorhead Career  Academy. Moorhead   individual Chromebooks and shorter attention
                                            with regional businesses provide students with   Area Public Schools   spans. Over the past seven years, Chantz has
                                            applied learning experiences that ready them   Chantz’s journey into the automotive   continuously evolved the program, integrating
                                            for career  and/or  college.  Students  discover   industry began on the family farm near May-  modern standards, concepts, competencies,
                                            their  passions, explore  their  options, work   ville,  ND, where he spent his early years   and practices.
                                            toward  industry  certifications  and  gain  real   wrenching. At 15, he acquired his second car,   Chantz acknowledges that the program’s
                                            work skills. This programming  encompasses   a 1971 Nova, and promptly blew it up, forcing   success is built on the legacy of those who came
            Each year, the Minnesota State Transpor-  all Moorhead students in grades 9-12 whether   him to learn how to rebuild it. This experience   before him. He attributes its achievements to
        tation Center of Excellence  (TCOE) proudly   at the high school or career academy.  sparked his passion for the automotive field.  amazing  students,  a  phenomenal  facility, a
        sponsors awards recognizing the remarkable   Two  years ago, a 10-year sponsorship   Despite  struggling  with  various  degrees   supportive advisory board, a community that
        contributions  of educators, advocates,  sup-  commitment was put in place to establish and   while  in college, Chantz  found success   recognizes the need, and a dedicated  admin
        porters, and industry partners in the field of   operate  the Distribution,  Manufacturing,  and   working at a local hot rod shop, a job he bal-  team.  Despite having no formal training  in
        transportation-related education. Nominated   Transportation Pathway at the Moorhead High   anced with farm work  for nearly a decade.   mechanics, Chantz is committed to providing
        by their peers and selected  by a Committee   School Career Academy  – a critical  compo-  However, tired of the financial strain, he quit   as many students as possible with the opportu-
        from our Executive Board, these award recipi-  nent to continue to introduce future talent to   school, the farm, and hot rodding to drive a   nity to learn and grow in the field.
        ents have demonstrated exceptional dedication   both the distribution industry and the trades.  truck. This phase lasted only a year before his
        and impact in their roles.             “Community  and business partnerships   sister persuaded him to consider teaching.
            Congratulations to the Moorhead Career   help meet our regional workforce needs. This   For the next two years, Chantz returned   www.isd152.org
        Academy and instructor Chantz Rud, our 2024   investment yields one of the best returns imag-  to his roots in hot rodding, schooling, and
        Exemplary  Secondary  Program  of the  Year   inable—a new generation of creative, capable   farming. He reclaimed his job at the hot rod
        award recipient!                    and collaborative future leaders who are pre-


        Youth Skills Training Program Grants Available
                                                                                    CAV Career
                                            YST@DLI Program Approval
                                                YST programs are composed of a      Pathways Camp
                                            minimum of one school partner and one
                                            employer partner.  They may include mul-  Are you a high schooler interested in vehicles and the
                                            tiple schools, employers and community
            The Youth Skills Training (YST) program   organizations.                latest technology? Intrigued by self-driving cars and
        encourages, promotes and supports the devel-  School partners do not need to go   automated shuttles? Then the CAV Career Pathways
        opment of local partnerships between schools,   through a formal approval process, but should
        employers and community  organizations.   meet with YST staff to demonstrate a plan to   Camp may be right for you!
        These local partnerships provide students with   provide the following:
        related classroom instruction, safety training,   •  meaningful industry exposure for diverse   Dates: August 4–8, 2025
        industry-recognized credentials and paid work   students,                   Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus,
        experience  in high-growth and high-demand
        occupations  in the industries of advanced   •  an offering of at least one industry-  Minneapolis, MN
        manufacturing,  agriculture,  automotive,  related course for high school credit,
        health care and information technology. Suc-  •  a pathway to industry-recognized certifi-  For more information or to apply, contact ctscamps@
        cessful applicants will demonstrate the ability   cation/credentialing, and  umn.edu or visit mncav.umn.edu/outreach/cavcamp
        to achieve these  objectives  through various   •  paid  work experiences  in one or more
        means including outreach, education, training   of the following industries: advanced
        and supportive services for students.   manufacturing,  agriculture,  automotive,
            Round eight grant timeline          health care and information technology.
          •  Jan. 8 to Feb. 7, 2025: Grant applications   Employers must be approved for  YST
            accepted.                       paid work experiences prior to student learn-
          •  Questions are due  no  later than  4  p.m.   ers being placed at employer sites.
                                                Programs are not required to be a YST
            Central Standard Time, Jan. 30, 2025.  grant recipient  to become an approved YST
          •  Feb. 21 to March 14, 2025: Grant review   program.
            period                              To apply or for more information go to
          •  April 21, 2025: Grant recipients announced  https://www.dli.mn.gov/yst
          •  July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027: Grant per-
            formance period
   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21