After years without an automotive training program, high school students in the Roaring Fork School District finally have a space to once again get their hands dirty while learning.
Colorado Mountain College and the Roaring Fork School District officially opened the Automotive Technology Center on Wednesday, marking the return of a program that once gave students a head start in the industry but had been discontinued. Now, with cutting-edge tools and updated classrooms, students are gaining the skills to jumpstart careers in automotive service while earning college credit.
“This is an extremely exciting time for CMC and the Roaring Fork School District, and I can’t wait to see this facility filled with students, activity, learning, innovation and the future of workforce professionals,” CMC President Matt Gianneschi said.
The program has enrolled 48 students from Basalt, Roaring Fork, Bridges, and Glenwood Springs high schools. Students are learning skills in brakes, engines, steering and suspension, electrical systems, and HVAC while working with $300,000 worth of industry-standard tools.
“This is significant because of the partnership with CMC and their ability to bring state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line curriculum and equipment,” Roaring Fork School District Instructional Facilitator Mitchell Foss said. “Our students are gaining access to career-leading manufacturers, career-leading equipment providers. They’re going to go out in the world and be familiar with the latest Snap-on diagnostic tool. They’re going to have such a huge leg up.”
The program follows an 80/20 model, with 80% of coursework taking place in the shop and 20% in the classroom. For many students, this is their first experience with college-level coursework.
“On day one, we asked them to raise their hand — how many of you have taken a college-level course before?” Foss said. “There’s about 12 to 15 students in each section, and I was seeing maybe one hand. This program dramatically increases the number of students accessing college-level coursework.”
For Glenwood Springs resident Mike Sims, the program’s return is personal. Sims graduated from Glenwood Springs High School in 1987 and participated in a similar automotive program through the Roaring Fork School District before it was discontinued.
“I love it. I’m glad this came back, because it was closed for many years,” Sims said. “It’s good to see it come back. We need more mechanics out there.”
His son Parker Sims, a junior at Basalt High School, is enrolled in the program.
“I’ve grown up in the shop my whole life —every Saturday, Sunday that I’m not in school, we’re at the shop working,” Parker Sims said. “It’s always been a passion of mine. With this program, I’m doing schoolwork, but I’m having fun with it. It’s just a win-win.”
Mike Sims said the closure of the previous program left a gap in local training opportunities.
“I was always disappointed when they shut it down. I understand sometimes it takes money and funding to make things happen, but it was sad to see it go,” Mike Sims said. “I was always advocating for it to come back.”
Parker Sims said the opportunity to take this class in high school will give him a head start.
“This is awesome, because I’ve always wanted to go to tech school,” Parker Sims said. “I’ve known since I was little I didn’t want to go to a four-year university, so this has just given me a perfect jump start.”
Roaring Fork School District Chief Operating Officer Ben Bohmfalk said the program will help students explore technical careers beyond just auto mechanics.
“This isn’t just about training students to be automotive technicians,” Bohmfalk said. “It’s about helping them figure out if they like working with their hands, solving problems, and working with mechanical systems. From here, they could go into aviation mechanics, construction, HVAC — there are so many possibilities.”
Bohmfalk said the program also helps address workforce shortages by connecting students with well-paying local jobs.
“People are rethinking the best pathway from school to a successful career,” Bohmfalk said. “It used to be that almost all promising careers required a four-year degree. That’s not the case anymore. There are so many hands-on, technical jobs that pay a living wage right here in the Roaring Fork Valley.”
Colorado Mountain College Skilled Crafts and Trades Program Director Jim Jones said the center is the result of years of planning.
“Ben and I started working on this over two years ago,” Jones said. “Once the agreement was in place between CMC and the Roaring Fork School District, it took about six months to bring everything together.”
Jones said the investment in training and equipment ensures students will be prepared for careers in high-demand industries.
“These students are working on their own vehicles, their families’ vehicles, using the latest industry technology,” Jones said. “Not only are they saving money by learning to fix things themselves, but they’re getting a top-tier education in the process.”
CMC plans to expand the program to include electric vehicle training by summer 2026, pending grant funding.
“We built this space with the future in mind,” Jones said. “The facility is pre-wired for EV charging, and we’re working with partners like RFTA, Aspen Skiing Company, and local dealerships to make sure students have access to the most up-to-date training.”
CMC President Matt Gianneschi said the center reflects the power of partnerships between education and industry.
“This project is more than this facility. It’s a long term investment in our students and in our communities across Colorado’s mountain towns,” Gianneschi said. “Together with the Roaring Fork School District, we collaborated to design a space in which high school students can earn college credits, gain job ready skills, and take the first steps in their careers.”
