It may not be time for the holidays yet, but that does not stop Auto Tech from giving to the less fortunate. When Robert Watson, the Auto Tech teacher, received a van for his classes to repair, he decided to give back to a family in need. The two parents and their three kids know Watson personally.

     “The family goes to his church,” senior Hannah Plott said. “He had a meeting at the church and brought it up.”

     When the van was donated, many parts had to be replaced: the radiator, the bumpers, a new battery, and the air conditioning. All three of the double-blocked classes, each with around 20 students, worked to repair these items on the car together.

     “We had different groups, and we all did different things,” senior Kristen Dimmick said. “One group worked on the bumper and my group helped clean it and fix the air conditioning.”

     To stay organized, Watson had the advanced class work on major items that needed repairing and had the beginner classes work on cleaning the van.

     “I found it productive because we each had different jobs to do and went to work without asking and knowing what needed to be done,” senior Jacob Hurt said.

     This van is not the only car that the Auto Tech classes worked on.

     “We’re doing a couple more cars, not donating, but we’re working on other students’ and teachers’ cars,” Hurt said. “Anyone can bring in their car for us to fix.”

     They are currently fixing up a Mustang that they plan on selling. Usually the class just repairs the cars they receive, but Watson decided that he did not need the van.

     This van project has taught the students about repairing certain parts on car as well as life lessons.

     “The headliner was my favorite because it was something I had never done before,” Hurt said. “I had to rip the old one out.”

     The headliner is the canvas-like piece that goes on the inside top of the car and keeps it insulated.

     The van had previously been in an accident; therefore the car was not in the condition to be driven.

     “It was really dirty inside and outside, so seeing it clean and done and when we were able to turn it on without a problem, that was the most rewarding part,” Dimmick said.

    The class is not currently working on another car that will be donated.

    “I don’t know if we are donating another car,” Plott said. “But if we are then I’m looking forward to it.”