Connecting With Schools
C&M believes strongly in connecting with area schools. Creating and donating personalized blankets to kindergartners, holding annual school supply drives for several nearby schools, donating and lending vehicles to area high school automotive classes are just some of the ways we connect with students and schools. We have an open-door job shadowing policy. Shop students are encouraged to spend 4 hours at the dealership to learn about the work and gain skills. Students have even become employees afterwards.
Annual C&M sponsored school supply drive.
Personalized blankets for area Kindergartners.
Delivering blankets to Kindergarten class.
Paul with Kittson Central Shop Class at C&M.
The dealership has worked with teachers and the schools throughout the years to grow the next group of technicians. We have found that working to engage local students is the most successful. At times, we lend the schools tools, give advice, print out workshop manuals, and more. Paul and Tim, our Service Manager, visit area schools and attend career fairs to show the schools what Stellantis and C&M have to offer.
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo students with vehicle donated by C&M.
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo students working on donated vehicle by C&M.
In the past, C&M has hosted a Tech Day and invited area schools to attend presentations about the dealerships and Stellantis at our local auditorium and the dealership. Students were able to see the shop and some in-process engine work, in addition to speaking with technicians and other employees, including our F&I Manager. We discovered that Tech Day could easily expand to financing, accounting, and more dealership career options. Wozniak described the day as a great opportunity for students to experience "a day in the life of a technician," as well as networking. They were able to connect with college instructors, other teachers and students, see the industry in real life, and even secure some scholarship funds from a local college.
Article: Hallock Dealer Brings Students and Educators TogetherHosting Tech Day has become a regular event for C&M and Roseau County Ford. Students from area high schools and sometimes NCTC hear from Ford, Stellantis, Northland Community and Technical College, and dealership employees about the auto industry, dealership careers, apprenticeships and scholarships, and other opportunities. Students visit the shop, job shadow, ask questions and eat lunch.
C&M and Roseau County Ford offer a Tech Student Loan Scholarship program worth $20,000!
This covers tuition and tool purchase assistance. The loans are forgiven by working at the dealerships. Specifically, this means:
- $15,000 tuition assistance over 2 years
- $5,000 tool purchase assistance over 2 years
- Earn $150 per online class completed over 2 years applied towards your tuition
- Work for 5 years at the dealership and loan will be forgiven.
- This is earned back at 20% per year worked.
Students at C&M Tech Day.
C&M and RCF Dealer Paul Blomquist speaking to students.
Students at C&M Tech Day.
Students eating lunch at Tech Day 2025 in the shop at C&M.
Students asking questions at Tech Day.
Speakers at Tech Day 2025.
C&M and RCF Dealer Paul Blomquist with the audience.
C&M has also participated in a State of Minnesota program Apprenticeship Minnesota. Apprenticeship Minnesota allowed 12 of our technicians received funds to use for training and to purchase tools.