As part of teaching his students how to repair cars in a realistic workplace, Greg Sagodic knows he needs to give them, well, real repairs to complete.
Sagodic teaches the two-year automotive technology program at the Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center and said he has had his students work on the community’s cars for about the last decade.
“I work on creating an environment here that’s just like the real world,” Sagodic said last week. “It’s real life work; it matters if everything’s done right because someone is going to be out driving that car.
“The school superintendent’s car is right there; we’re working on it right now.”
The school has 45 students between the morning and afternoon sessions. The two-year program students can begin as juniors; if they complete the testing, they earn an ASC student certification.
“That’s recognized throughout the nation. They could take that and work anywhere,” he said, noting that of those second-year students who took the tests, they had a 90 percent pass-rate. “It’s also prep for post-secondary education, so they could go to a technical training school or straight out into industry.”
Price
Sagodic said the school and students make no profit from the service. They charge for parts, which they buy locally, but don’t charge for labor.
“We’re not out to take work away from local dealers,” he said. “We just want to get work for the students, to get them career-ready.”
That said, he’s proud to offer a low-cost option for those struggling financially. As an example, he said the program has serviced vehicles for women fleeing abuse being sheltered at Sylvia’s Place in Allegan.
“It’s been really great to help them,” he said.
Heather Forrest is the executive director at Sylvia’s Place and said the program was a huge help. Paired with funds from the nonprofit’s “Wheels Working for Women” fund, they can help women stay independent.
“The tech center’s program allows those funds to go much further,” Forrest said.
She explained that sometimes the women at the shelter have slashed tires and broken windows after altercations with their abusers.
“We’ve had women’s cars with brake lines cut, their spark plugs or batteries removed,” she said. “It’s a way the perpetrator has to control the person.
“If we can help that person have a working vehicle again, obviously that’s a big piece to their independence.
“And I’m sure, for the students, it takes on a whole new meaning if they’re doing this work for someone who really needs it.”
Service
Because students are performing the work, it takes extra time for services to be completed. Sagodic said something simple such as an oil change could be completed in a day.
“If it’s a larger job, such as the ball joints and a front-end alignment, it might take a few days,” he said.
While students won’t take on larger projects such as transmission work or an engine overhaul, they will do light drivability repairs such as suspension and brakes. They can perform minor electrical work and mount and balance tires.
“I just wanted to give a shout-out, tell community the program exists here,” he said.
He has good reason to tout the program. In the annual SkillsUSA competition for programs like it across the state, one tech center student took first place in brakes at a regional event; another took second place overall and competed at statewide. A year earlier, another student placed first in statewide competition.
This year’s regionals are in February at Lansing Community College and the tech center program is sending six students.
Those who wish to donate to the Wheels Working for Women can do so through sylviasplace.com or by calling (269) 673-5742.
Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.
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