Stokes Honda Newest Academies of Berkeley County Gold Partner
June 16, 2015
MONCKS CORNER, SC – Stokes Honda North is the Academies of Berkeley County’s newest Gold Partner. District officials and Stokes Honda North managers signed the Academy Partnership Agreement on Monday, June 8, 2015. The company will work with students in the Engineering, Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies Academy at Stratford High School. As a Gold Partner, Stokes will donate more than $60,000 of in-kind services and/or funds for the first year and a minimum of $25,000 worth of funds and/or in-kind services for two additional years.
Commenting on the benefits of the partnership, Michael Bolton, Head of the Automotive Technology Program at Stratford High, said, “Stokes Honda’s commitment will take Stratford’s Automotive Program to a new level by creating work-place experiences for students that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. They will bring positive additions to the program with speakers, training materials and employment opportunities that will keep the program current with today’s technology.”
Stokes Honda North’s Parts and Service Director, Cleve Mize said, “This partnership allows us the opportunity to help introduce the realities of becoming an automotive technician. Whether this encourages the student to move forward to becoming a technician, or shows them what the job really does entail, and enlighten the student to move on to another path. We are very excited with this new partnership with Berkeley County Schools and look forward to reviewing the students’ success stories.”
Stokes Honda North will invest in the local area’s future engineering, manufacturing and industrial technologies leaders by having hands-on collaboration with teachers and students. Specifically, Stokes Honda North will provide field trip, shadowing and internship opportunities for students. The company also will send guest speakers to the school to make special tool demonstration presentations.
Monica Dixon-Houston, an Assistant Principal at Stratford High said, “The administration at Stratford High School are so excited to have a Gold Partnership with Stokes Honda North. The opportunities presented to our students and our community through this collaboration will be priceless and extremely valuable. It is an important time to demonstrate the relevance of industry and education to our student population; and certainly, this partnership is just the beginning. We are on the cusp of ensuring that ‘all’ students are not only college ready, but also career ready.”
During the next year, Stratford High School and Berkeley County School District’s Career and Technical Education Department will open a “Quick Lube” training center on the school’s campus. The center will train students for entry-level automotive service tasks and better prepare them for employment.
“With the support of Stokes Honda, the students will learn at school and practice their craft with work-based learning initiatives like job shadowing, internships and a Technician Apprenticeship Program. This partnership will bring current technology and equipment to the program without the cost burden on the district and school, which really supports the school, community and students, and directly impacts job placement and career readiness,” said Bolton.
Academies at Stratford High School allow students to learn in a context that suits their career interests. High school students may attend academies focused on Arts and Humanities; Business and Information Systems; Health Sciences, Human and Public Services; and Engineering, Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies. Berkeley County School District and both the Berkeley County and Charleston Metro Chambers of Commerce are actively seeking business sponsors and partners for all academies.
All corporate citizens interested in learning more about the Academies of Berkeley County may contact the Academies of Berkeley County Coordinator, Sonya Addison-Stewart at [email protected].
