Students Sign On for Mercedes-Benz Tech Co-op Program

The end result could be employment with the luxury car maker

Mercedes-Benz US International Inc. has teamed with Wallace State Community College, in Hanceville, Alabama, in a tech co-op program.

The first students to be accepted into the program signed the agreement in mid-November and will complete coursework at Wallace State during the fall and spring semesters and work full-time at Mercedes-Benz’s plant in Vance, near Tuscaloosa, throughout the summer semesters.

The six Wallace State Autotmotive Service Technology students to sign to become a part of the Mercedes-Benz Tech Co-op program are (from left) Jorge Perez, Dylan Krohe, Adam Carney, William Wilkerson, Austin Thompkins and Roberto Perez. Pictured also is Steve Colburn (standing, center), organizational development specialist at Mercedes-Benz.

“This is a great opportunity for these students,” said Steve Colburn, organizational development specialist at Mercedes-Benz. He told the students, “I’m very excited for all of you to see you progress through college and our plant. My top goal is to see you be successful in this program.”

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Wallace State students in the program will earn $16 an hour during the first summer at the Mercedes-Benz plant, in addition to having a $400 housing allowance in the Tuscaloosa area. They will earn $17 per hour and the housing allowance during the second summer of work. At the completion of the program, they will be eligible for full-time employment at Mercedes-Benz.

“This is an important day. We’re thrilled for the opportunity these students have and we’re excited for their future,” said Jamie Blackmon, Wallace State’s Center for Career and Workforce Development director. “It’s also a great day for our Automotive Service Technology Department.”

At the time of the announcement of the program, Mercedes-Benz also donated two Mercedes GLEs to Wallace State for training purposes.

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