Oakland Community College students Steven Black and Santiago Vargas-Hernandez have each received a $2,500 Dodge Never Lift Scholarship to support their automotive technology education. 

They are among just seven students nationwide—selected from more than 350 applicants—enrolled in Mopar® CAP (Career Automotive Program) programs like OCC. Funded by Dodge and Stellantis dealers, the scholarships help develop the next generation of prospective Mopar® CAP Stellantis dealership technicians.  

OCC Automobile Servicing Faculty Claude Townsend shared that since COVID there has been a severe decline in workers from all trades, including automotive service.  

“Right now, there are more automotive service job openings than there are students ready to go to work,” he explained. “If the nearly 60 beginning-level students enrolled in our fundamentals classes were ready to graduate today, they’d all be hired immediately. My goal is to educate our students and have them stay in Michigan.”  

Townsend noted high enrollment of nearly 200 students in the program, including a growing number of women. He notes the field is changing and extends beyond working under the hood and heavy lifting, and offers a variety of roles such as parts inventory and service writing.  

OCC student and Dodge scholarship recipient Black is a self-described “car guy with an artistic side.” He was close to finishing another automotive service program in 2014 when the school shut down. He returned to welding fabrication of drag-race car frames at Straight Shot Performance, an automotive customization shop in Livonia. Today, he runs a metal fabrication and powder-coating business from his home garage, using his scholarship to buy a sandblast cabinet. 

Now close to completing his OCC degree, Black said he returned to college to close the loop and get his industry credentials.  

“OCC has a state-of-the-art program with very knowledgeable instructors who all have experience as auto mechanics,” he said. “I came in knowing a lot about cars, but I'd be lying if I said I didn’t learn anything here!”  

He added that he is grateful to OCC and his instructors and plans to focus on his business after graduation. And, when the time feels right, he wants to teach and share his knowledge with the next generation of auto mechanics. 

For more information about OCC’s program, visit Automobile Servicing.  

About OCC    

Celebrating 60 years, Oakland Community College (OCC) has educated over one million students since 1965. OCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs and is committed to student success with affordable tuition, support services, flexible class options and top transfer opportunities. The College serves more than 20,000 students annually while advancing our community through education, training and career support. OCC is nationally recognized as Michigan’s top online college, and seventh in the U.S., by Newsweek’s  America’s Top Online Colleges 2025. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.     

  ###   

Media Contact: Marketing & Communications | (248) 341-2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu