Jonathan Padilla (third from left) and the other first graduates of the Rivian training program at Olive-Harvey College in Chicago display their certificates at their recent graduation. Olive-Harvey is one of five service training sites for Rivian, an electric vehicle company. (City Colleges photos)

Jonathan Padilla thought it was a scam when he received notice that he was pre-approved to join a technician training program for an electric vehicle company.

“I didn’t believe it,” the recent Truman College graduate said of the email from Olive-Harvey College that promised him $26 per hour while training. “I was working already and making $16 per hour.”

Olive-Harvey College, a City Colleges of Chicago institution, was, in fact, offering the training program with the electric vehicle company Rivian.

“It was well worth it,” said Padilla, one of the first five graduates of the Rivian program at Olive-Harvey.

He and the other four program graduates are working at Rivian centers across the United States, earning more than $55,000.

Padilla had graduated from the auto technician program at Truman, another City College. His knowledge of vehicle electricity learned in the City Colleges program made him eligible for the Rivian course, according to City Colleges officials.

Olive-Harvey has three Rivian electric vehicles on site, as well as Rivian tools and equipment valued at close to $500,000.

The five-month program pays students $26 per hour during training from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at Olive-Harvey and then working Fridays at the Rivian Center at Damen Avenue and Lake Street in Chicago.

Rivian also has a service center in Normal.

Cheryl Freeman, dean of the College to Careers program at Olive-Harvey, noted that the college got word that Rivian was looking for places to do their training program.

“When they came here, they were like ‘We could do this,’” Freeman said.

Olive-Harvey is one of five sites throughout the country for the pilot Rivian training program.

Freeman noted that Rivian has service centers as well as mobile technicians.

“Technicians will drive to people’s homes or meet them at the service center,” Freeman said. “The service centers are all over the United States.”

Freeman said the first five graduates from Olive-Harvey’s Rivian program are working in Chicago; Normal; Columbus, Ohio; Phoenix, Arizona, and Louisville — each making between $55,000 and $75,000.

Rivian interviewed 80 people before selecting the five pilot program participants at Olive-Harvey.

“They want someone with a little auto experience and a little electrical experience,” Freeman said.

The Olive-Harvey dean said she hopes that the Rivian training can be incorporated into all three City College campuses by the fall.

“We built the program with the end in mind,” Freeman said. “We want the classes full. We want to get it so the students are made ready to go.”

She said getting students ready for servicing electric vehicles is a must for City Colleges.

“Everyone has to have the knowledge, whether Rivian picks them or not. Maybe they go work on Chevy Volts,” Freeman said. “We need them to be ready for any opportunity. We need to make sure our students are just as prepared as anyone else.

“This has to be taught up. This is an emerging market. We want our students to do well, to handle the opportunities as things go forward. As everyone is saying, EV is part of the future. If you want to go somewhere warm, you can take the knowledge of electric vehicles you gained here with you.”

Padilla, who is working at the Rivian Center in Chicago, said the support he got from Rivian while going through the program was amazing.

“It was borderline like being treated like family,” Padilla said. “I had a lot of anxiety going into the class. My professor was available for me outside of class. He said, ‘If you need to talk, I’m here.’ He gave me mental support to help me get through the program. I’ve never experienced that before.

“We were going at crazy speed, and I didn’t feel like I deserved a spot in the program. My professor helped bring me back down to earth. The support system was very helpful. I’ve never really traveled outside the state. Now, I’ve gone to different service centers. I was nervous to leave the city when then sent me out to different service centers, but it has made me a better person outside of being a technician.”

Anyone at least 21 years of age interested in being considered for the program should go to https://careers.rivian.com/careers-home/jobs/13651?lang=en-us.

kbeese@chronicleillinois.com