20 Northland students get behind the wheel with AAA

Partnership provides driver education to participants in a workforce readiness program

By AAA of Western and Central New York

AAA Western and Central New York is pleased to announce a partnership with Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC) to provide driver training to students in need of a driver’s license for workforce readiness.

As part of the program, 20 students, attending Alfred State College and SUNY Erie Community College at NWTC, have completed the New York state-required, five-hour prelicensing course with AAA. They will begin in-car instruction with AAA’s licensed driving instructors who will eventually take the students for their NYS DMV road tests this spring.

“We’re proud to partner with Northland to bring our driver training programs to well-deserving students,” said Mike Formanowicz, driver training manager at AAA Western and Central New York. “Research shows that drivers who participate in the driver education and training programs improved their on-road driving performance scores and knowledge test scores significantly.”

A driver’s license is a requirement for employment in many industries, such as the auto tech field, and a barrier that Northland was looking to address prior to graduation, which will take place this spring.

“We’re thrilled to expand opportunities that help our students gain essential life skills and greater independence,” said Carolyn E. Storms-Stoltman, Ph.D., chief program officer at Northland Workforce Training Center.

Thanks to the partnership, the students will be prepared for careers and will avoid any delay entering the workforce.

“Expanding access to driver training is about more than just getting behind the wheel – it’s about opening doors to independence, opportunity, and a brighter future,” said AAA WCNY Vice President and Chief People & Impact Officer Susan Was.

Founded in October 2004, AAA driver training has assisted more than 400,000 students with nearly 1 million instruction hours across the region.

NWTC is an industry-driven, public-private partnership between employers, educational institutions, community and faith-based organizations, and state and local government focused on closing the skills gap of the local labor pool and creating economic on-ramps to training, internships, apprenticeships and permanent employment for Western New Yorkers seeking high-paying advanced manufacturing and energy careers.

For more information about the AAA driver training program, visit www.AAA.com/DriverTraining or call 800-836-2582.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 850,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA WCNY has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.