DRIVE One's Mission Statement:

"Professional, STEAM-Driven Education Through Collaboration With Industry"

DRIVE One is a 501(c)(3) that provides at-risk youth with vocational training in Automotive Technology, Machining, Welding, Woodworking, and Transportation Design.

It was founded in May 2012 by a Detroit-area high school auto shop instructor as a means to fill the skills gap following the Great Recession of 2008.

Over the last six years, DRIVE students have received national attention, beginning with the 2014 Grand National Roaster Show, where our ’31 Ford Roadster was the first high-school built car to compete for the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) Award.

Their projects have won multiple awards at the largest indoor car show in North America (the Piston-Power Autorama in Cleveland, OH), have been one of only 120 cars to place at the largest outdoor car show in North America (the 2017 GoodGuys PPG Nationals in Columbus, OH), and our student-made-up Motorsports Team has been ranked as one of the Top 20 Street Stock race teams in the Country TWICE (first in the 2015 Great American Racing Series [GARS] Season and again in the 2018 Championship Racing Association [CRA] Season).

Overtime, DRIVE has expanded to include programs in Welding/Fabrication and Transportation Design, with both programs being crowned as State Champions at the Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society (MITES) State Finals EVERY YEAR from 2015 to current.

In addition to success with project-based learning, DRIVE partners with various organizations, including The Suburban Collection, Dorian Ford, NAPA Auto Care, Roush Industries, and others, to provide students with apprenticeships while still in high school. DRIVE One also partners with various sponsors such as Axalta Coating Systems, Ingersoll-Rand, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles, and over 20+ others to provide students with valuable experiences, including extra-curricular activities and professional training.

In 2018, DRIVE also became the official training and Career Technical Education (CTE) partner for South Lake Schools, providing courses in automotive technology, machining, welding, and transportation design to students from South Lake, Lakeshore, and East Detroit High Schools.

In partnership among these three districts and DRIVE One, students from all four high schools now share classes in the 16,000 sq. ft. DRIVE One TechCenter (DOTC) in Roseville, Michigan, where they can develop trade skills, start a career, and receive their high school diploma all under one roof.

Our Programs:

Auto Tech

Established:

July 2012

Goal:

Students will learn all aspects of automotive form & function, from learning how to diagnose a problem to finding that problem's solution. They will do so by applying taught skills on both project cars & daily drivers.

Certifications:

National Association of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)

State of Michigan Mechanic's License

Auto Body

Established:

July 2012

Goal:

Certifications:

Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair
(I-CAR)

Machining

Established:

July 2012

Goal:

Students will learn basic metal-working skills requiring the use of lathes, mills, and CNC's to complete projects for competitions, and expand horizons through the use of available internships and employment opportunities.

Welding

Established:

September 2013

Goal:

Students will learn the various forms of welding using all types of welding equipment, going from Arch/Stick to MIG and TIG, as well as metalworking tools
in-preparation for eventual career placement and certification.

Certifications:

American Welding Society (AWS)

Transport Design

Established:

April 2014

Goal:

Students will learn the fundamentals of Automotive Design, from a initial rendering, to final edition, to production scale-model. Students will also work on different design projects, such as pedal cars, from start to finishing product.