Father Judge High School recently held an open house at its Faulkner Automotive Institute, located inside the new Career Pathways Academy behind the school.
The automotive institute, which opened at the beginning of the school year, is a three-year program.
The first cohort consists of 24 sophomores who will be job ready by the time they are seniors.
“This is an exciting day for Father Judge. There is something special going on here,” said school president Brian King, class of 1997, noting a recent profile of the Career Pathways Academy in the Wall Street Journal. “These students are trailblazers. It’s exciting.”
The Career Pathways Academy, 20,000 square feet and a cost of $11.5 million, houses a welding program and will add HVAC next school year. Principal James Hozier is interviewing applicants.
King thanked state Sen. Tina Tartaglione for her support of the building, adding that board chairman Don Salmon helped secure Faulkner’s sponsorship of the automotive program.
Tom Diamond is the automotive program instructor, while Faulkner’s Mike Rocchi shapes the curriculum.
Diamond said the program mirrors a work environment.
“Mr. Diamond has made me want to excel in this field,” said student Francis Eberle, also crediting volunteer Bob Lacivita and thanking the Faulkner family.
Harry Faulkner, president of the Faulkner Automotive Group, said the institute provides technical skills for today’s industry.
Faulkner said grads will have family-sustaining careers, adding that the program should be a model for other schools.
“This program means a great deal to the Faulkner family,” he said.
Over three years, the students will complete 1,080 hours of automotive learning.
Students will have a co-op at a Faulkner location senior year. ••
