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Hiring Hoosiers: Students get hands on experience in auto mechanics

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INDIANAPOLIS—At the Walker Career Center in Indianapolis, students are taking part in a two-year program focusing on the auto industry.

The courses include auto mechanics. Students learn how to work on brakes, rebuild engines and diagnose electrical problems. Along with class credits, they also can earn college credits through Ivy Tech. All of this leads to a professional auto technician certification.

Some, like student Logan Proctor, get to work at actual businesses such as Tom Wood Ford. "It's a really good opportunity," said Proctor. "They are offering to pay $3,000 of college back every year when you're with them, and they give you $4,000 worth of tools, all because I decided to take this class two-years ago."

Proctor's instructor says auto technicians, on average, are in their 50's, so there will be a need for younger people to replace those who retire.