Test drives lead to Tri-City donation
Oct 9, 2024EDEN – Tri-City Automotive donated $1,500 to Rockingham Community College after raising money through the Chevy Back to School program.
“We do a test drive event where Chevy participates and we get to pick somebody in the community that benefits from that. Chevy contributes $25 each time the person does a test run,” said Richard Mikels, general manager of Tri-City Chevrolet GMC.
He said Tri-City Automotive President Sam Coates and the staff always talk about the importance of trade schools.
“Sam and I believe in Rockingham Community College,” Mikels said, adding that young people need to get back into the lost art of trades.
“We need those people. I remember when I was in high school, we learned a trade,” he said.
“I’m glad to see Chevy allowing us to do something in this way. It’s a great fit for us,” Mikels said of the test-drive event and donation.
Amy Brown, president of the RCC Foundation, which manages scholarships and gifts for the College, said RCC is committed to the trades.
“We’re working on getting another high school on campus, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school,” she said.
Brown said her son graduated from Appalachian State University with debt, while her daughter went to RCC.
“She’s finishing the Nursing program, and you just can’t beat it,” she said. “It’s affordable and you get a great education.”
Brown’s daughter received scholarship money to offset her cost of attending college.
“This money from Tri-City goes to a really good use,” she said.
“How can we get more kids interested in the trades?” asked Coates.
“RCC President Dr. Mark Kinlaw and the team at the College are working really hard to have someone present in the high schools that can really advise the kids,” Brown said.
Currently, RCC has two career coaches that each work on two high school campuses, and aims to have an admissions counselor visit who can talk to the students about RCC’s programs and resources, and help them apply.
“I love the College. It’s really such an asset for this community. Really, that’s our biggest asset I think,” Brown said.
“Your support goes a long way, and we appreciate it very much,” she said to Coates and Mikels.
~Story and photo by Gerri Hunt, RCC Director of Public Information
