May 11, 2022—Students at Maplewood High School in Nashville were recently recognized for their performance in an automotive training program.
According to WPLN, Bridgestone has sponsored the school's program since 2015. Since its inception, Bridgestone and Maplewood have graduated over 130 students from the program and dozens have been hired at local Firestone Complete Auto Care stores.
“We absolutely love the Maplewood High School graduates,” said Marko Ibrahim, the president of Bridgestone’s retail operations according to WPLN. “They have a leg up on someone that’s coming to us with no experience.”
The mission of the program is to help prepare interested students for careers in the automotive industry. This kind of program is especially crucial in today's climate, with the industry facing a technician shortage across the nation.
One of the program's top students is Elizabeth Castillo. She became interested in the industry after attending auto shows with her dad in Los Angeles.
“It was a scene where you could feel free,” said Castillo, according to WPLN. “Like, you’ll smell gas and burnt tires, but you’re still surrounded by many people that had the same interest as you.”
Some of the skill sets she has learned in the program include rotating tires, giving oil changes, and replacing brakes.
Nearly a dozen students were recognized for their performance, and they attended an awards ceremony on May 5 at Bridgestone's downtown Nashville HQ.
