Texas community college launches automotive program

Carroll Shelby International, Inc., a vehicle parts manufacturer, and Northeast Texas Community College have partnered to create an automotive education center to allow young people the opportunity to learn automotive field skills.

A state-of-the-art facility, the Carroll Shelby Automotive Technology Center will train future mechanics, with automotive and body repair education, so they are able to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.

Enrolling its first class this fall, the intensive, hands-on program will be housed in a new automotive facility that features a climate-controlled shop space, lifts, paint booth, three classrooms with roll-up doors to bring in cars, shower and changing rooms and office space.

 “I want to help young people improve their lives through the industry that has been so good to me,” says Carroll Shelby, automotive industry legend and chairman and founder of Carroll Shelby International. “By giving them valuable new skills, they can be proud, productive members of society.”

Shelby and his companies will contribute a minimum of $525,000 to the program for student scholarships and support. Curriculum will provide career-applicable experience, as students will build an automobile during their last semester. The goal of the assignment is to have the vehicles autographed by Shelby and sold for proceeds to help sustain the program. 

The college is actively seeking a program Chair, responsible for building on the current programs, which include the AAS degree in Automotive Repair, an Auto Body Repair program offering a one year certificate or a two year AAS degree and a Diesel program offering three certificates and a two-year AAS degree.

“This gift is truly a unique opportunity for NTCC,” says Dr. Herbert Riedel, NTCC Vice President for Instruction and Student Development. “The partnership with Mr. Shelby will allow us to build a world-class automotive program in Northeast Texas. It will be invaluable to our college, our region, and most importantly, to our students.”

Open since 1985, Northeast Texas Community College has a range of course offerings with many extras, such as athletics intramurals, a film series, and world-class musical performances. Through partnerships with Texas A&M University – Texarkana, Texas A&M University – Commerce and The University of Texas at Tyler, students can complete a bachelor’s degree in education, nursing, and social work at NTCC.

In addition to the credited program, the partnership will also include various continuing education opportunities for community members. Other future projects could include the creation of a Shelby Automobiles modification center and a test track on the NTCC campus.