The East Meck Automotive Fundamentals class received a $5,000 donation from the Advance Auto Parts Foundation. The gift came after CMS volunteer and former East Meck Secretary Christina Cooper reached out to the foundation at the request of Athletic Director Jason Fowler.

   “The Auto Department assists the Athletic Department with maintenance on our mowers, and they also help with driving buses for our teams when needed,” Fowler said. I figured it would be a way to help pay them back for all the help they give to us.”

   “I was eager to help, knowing the value of providing students with hands-on automotive experience that equips them for careers in the industry,” Cooper said. “Advance Auto Parts has a well-established reputation for supporting automotive education and workforce development, and I believe a partnership with their foundation could have a lasting impact on our Automotive students.”

   Automotive Fundamentals teacher Thomas Nguyen plans to use the money to buy tools for his class so the students can have a more hands-on experience. The shop already has tools, but Automotive Fundamentals is a separate class so they don’t get to use them as often.

   “The class is mostly theory, so they use a textbook to learn about different components and things about cars and when they have a chance, they go to the shop,” Nguyen said. “But I want to diversify the curriculum a little bit. So if we have tools and we have workstations here, then they get to work on these things without going to the shop.”

   There are still more preparations to be made before the money can be used to purchase any equipment. Nguyen is planning to have the classroom reworked and the new tools as early as next year.