June 28, 2019—The final school partnership by Icahn Automotive is with Universal Technical Institute in Orlando.
Icahn and UTI officials gathered at the school to show new classroom designs that include new furniture and equipment, according to a press release. The company also doled out a $2,500 scholarship to Dominic Lightner, an automotive technology student there.
“As a nationwide service network, we need skilled technicians in cities and towns across the country, so our partnership with UTI enables us to connect with students and provide additional support as they prepare for a career in the skilled trades,” said Icahn CEO Brian Kaner in the release.
It's part of Icahn's Race to 2026 initiative. According to the press release, the effort "encourages more men and women to pursue viable careers in the skilled trades by partnering with technical training schools and offering scholarships, tuition reimbursement; creating apprenticeship and internship programs; job placement and continuing education opportunities." It's meant to help fill a projected labor requirement of 46,000 technicians by 2026, based on federal data.
In total, Icahn says it has partnered with six Universal Technical Institute and Lincoln Tech locations to reach students enrolled in automotive technology programs across the U.S.
