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Release Date:

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Ford recognizes HFC ASSET program with 16th Performance Award

Amanda Hofmann is an intern at Russ Milne Ford in Macomb. This fall, she will enroll in the HFC ASSET program.

HFC’s Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program recently earned a Performance Award from Ford Motor Co., the world-renowned Dearborn-based automaker that has had a partnership with HFC for nearly 35 years.

This Performance Award recognizes ASSET programs that meet or exceed performance metrics established by Ford. This award comes with $4,000, which the HFC Foundation will administer. The money will be used for scholarships, tools, and equipment for ASSET students, according to HFC automotive instructor Kris Young, who has been the ASSET program coordinator and instructor for six years. Young has received the award every year for the past six years, continuing the tradition after his predecessor, Gary Heinz, retired.

“Gary Heinz set the standard for receiving the award since 2004,” said Young. “Those are some big shoes to fill, and I intend to continue this tradition of excellence!”

One of the first ASSET programs founded

HFC’s ASSET program is one of the first ASSET programs, founded in 1986. ASSET is a two-year college program that leads to an associate degree in Automotive Service Technology. It is a joint effort between HFC, Ford, and area Ford and Lincoln dealerships.

The ASSET program allows technical and vocational students to receive on-the-job training at a sponsoring Ford or Lincoln dealership while earning an associate degree. An example of this is Amanda Hofmann, who is currently an automotive intern at Russ Milne Ford in Macomb. She will join HFC’s ASSET program in the Fall 2020 semester.

“Upon completion, students will not only have an associate degree but will also be 100 percent Ford-certified technicians,” said Young. “We’re fortunate because of our location. Being in Dearborn, we’re right next door to Ford and we have advantages that ASSET programs at other schools don’t. Ford has donated some cars to our program because of the proximity – we’re within shouting distance of its world headquarters. There’s also a high concentration of Ford and Lincoln dealerships in this area, which allows us to place ASSET students for jobs and internships.”