Advanced auto class earns scholarship, wins national contest

On the morning of Jan. 19, select students from Great Falls Public Schools automotive program received a donation of over $2,500 of parts from City Chevrolet. The donation was to aid in the restoration of a 1965 Ford Mustang, which is part of a contest the automotive program students are participating in, and were notified they had won on Dec. 20. Bob Oakland of City Chevrolet said, “We are pleased to be a part of this program. It’s a great opportunity for students in the community to learn about auto mechanics.” The car dealership donated tires and wheels, a sound system, a headliner and seat coverings. “We really appreciate the support,” Said the project advisor, Joe Wilkins. “It’s been overwhelming.”

The students participating in the project come from Great Falls High, C.M. Russell High School and Paris Gibson Education Center. For some, winning the contest was a surprise. “We’re such a small school, it was great that we could compete with a large high school and a community college in this competition, said Brandi McCoy, a senior at Paris. The other schools the group competed with were a high school in Monterey, California and Kansas City Community College in Kansas City, Kansas.“It feels great to get these donations and be able to put everything on the car,” said Jessie Leavitt, a senior at Great Falls High.

In addition to numerous donations from businesses around the area, all of the students participating in the class have received a $10,000 scholarship to Ohio Technical College for taking first prize in the contest.