Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren County Career Center Automotive Technology student Alex Glotz accepts a $5,000 scholarship check from Midtown Motors Owner Kevin Ruttenbur.

Students who excel often receive scholarships to help them further their education.

Sometimes, students don’t need further education, but they deserve some reward. Warren County Career Center Automotive Technology student Alex Glotz has spent parts of two years working for and learning from Midtown Motors through the career center’s Co-op/TANF program.

On Tuesday, his workday was interrupted.

He was called to a meeting. He didn’t know he would be meeting with the owner, the service directors, his parents, and his teacher.

Neither did he know that he would be accepting a scholarship.

Owner Kevin Ruttenbur, service director Randy Carlson, service director Rich Landman presented Glotz with $5,000 — $1,000 was in his hands Tuesday, with $2,000 more to follow on his one-year and two-year work anniversary.

Glotz looked stunned when he saw the over-sized check with $5,000 on it and when Carlson handed him the initial payment.

“I appreciate this, so much,” he said.

“We’re so proud of you,” Alex’s mother, Mindy, said.

“You’ve done extremely well,” his father, Bill, said.

“You’ve earned it, Alex,” Carlson said.

“We’re doing a program through the career center for candidates coming into the automotive trade,” Ruttenbur said. “We provide OEM training. We’re looking to grow our youth in the community. We enjoy watching them grow. And, in turn, we grow.”

Career Center Automotive Technology Teacher John Winkelbauer and Co-op/TANF Program Coordinator Bob Smith came out for the happy event.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Winkelbauer said. “I kinda pointed him towards Ford. I keep in touch with the Ford dealers here and in Erie. Ford has an excellent training program after you get out of school.”

“I couldn’t be happier for him,” he said. “He came to the right place.”

“I’m grateful for Midtown Ford for the way they’ve worked with us… with Alex,” Smith said. “The support of his parents meant a lot. It was a team effort.”

Glotz wasted no time, arriving at the career center early on those days he was in school rather than at the co-op.

“He took off with the Ford curriculum and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (soft skills) curriculum. He ran me out of material,” Smith said. “He’s what the program is all about.”

“I wouldn’t be here without the program,” Glotz said.

Glotz is the inaugural recipient of the award. Midtown plans to turn it into an annual program.

“This is the first scholarship we’ve ever done at Midtown Motors,” Carlson said. “It’s so difficult to get technicians. We hope this is the way.”

“To be eligible, you have to be involved through the career center and work through the TANF program,” he said. “The recipient has to be qualified here through work experience and through the career center with standing and good grades.”

“We look for kids who are motivated, who are self-starters,” Carlson said. “We don’t have to worry about being over top of them all the time. Alex has certainly filled that bill.”

“Looking through the training history, he’s done over 60 classes – teaching himself how to get better,” Carlson said. “We really appreciate that.”

“Alex has done everything we’ve asked him to do,” he said.

Glotz showed his devotion and enthusiasm, by leaving the presentation quickly to head back to work.

“I wish more parents would take advantage of the programs that are in place,” Mindy Glotz said.

“He’s running with it. There’s no stopping him now,” she said. “Reach for the stars.”

“I’m so extremely proud of him – everything he has accomplished and everything that he will accomplish,” Bill Glotz said. “We’re extremely happy with Midtown and the career center.”

Alex will go from the co-op program to a full-time employee.

He is following in the automotive footsteps of his father and grandfather and Bill expects to spend more time with his son. At least some of the scholarship will help fund the restoration of a 1980 Monte Carlo that Bill had been working on before he passed it on to Alex.

“My car’s going to go together really fast, now,” Alex said.