Area 30 project makes strong showing

Friday, February 26, 2010
The Area 30 morning automotive collision and services technology class shows off "Blue on Black," their project that took second place in its class at the recent World of Wheels show. The morning and afternoon automotive classes worked on the 1996 Camaro Z28.

GREENCASTLE -- "Blue on Black" was the theme for a 1996 Camaro Z28 restored by automotive collision and services technology students at Area 30 Career Center.

"(The theme) came from a song by Kenny Wayne Shepherd," explained Jerry Spackman, automotive services technology instructor.

The Z28 was donated to the career center and transformed into an eye-catching piece of work. The black finish is topped with blue "flames" shooting up its hood and sides and the words "Blue on Black" scrawled across the front windshield.

"The kids got to see junk ready for the scrap yard to placing at a car show," said Spackman.

The tricked out sports car took second place in the mild hardtop category at World of Wheels -- a national car show with professionally modified vehicles. A version of the show came to the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and the Area 30 car competed against roughly 250 other vehicles.

"It felt great to get second place," said Area 30 student Kyle Arnett, a senior at Owen Valley High School. "I love the hands on experience (the class) gives me."

Arnett said he watched his dad work on cars and wanted to learn the skills to be a mechanic. He joined the automotive class last year and said it is amazing how much he has learned.

"Even during snow days," said Spackman, "the students were calling (Rob Worman, automotive collision technology instructor) and I to open the garage so they could work on the car."

The car was a project for seniors in the automotive collision technology and automotive services technology classes. All in all, there were about 40 students (juniors and seniors) who had a hand in rebuilding the car.

At Area 30, high school juniors and seniors can enroll in the automotive services technology class, which will teach them how to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair engines and other automotive systems while servicing and maintaining a variety of automobiles, trucks and vans.

Afternoon automotive class stands proudly with "Blue on Black."

Students enrolled in the automotive collision technology course will learn how to operate and maintain a variety of tools and equipment used in the basics of painting, refinishing and collision repair.

While those are just two of the many programs offered at Area 30, all students have the chance to explore options for their futures. Greencastle High School junior Krystal Trimble is enrolled in the teacher education program at Area 30.

"Area 30 has helped me invest in my future by allowing me to experience a career of my choice -- teacher education," she said. "It has helped me decide on my career, pointed out my strengths and weaknesses and helped me improve."

The career center provides half-day career and technical education programs for juniors and seniors, at least 16 years of age, who are enrolled at Cloverdale, Eminence, Greencastle, North Putnam, Owen Valley and South Putnam high schools.

The two-year sequenced career and technical education programs are high school electives. High school juniors can participate for two years, making them eligible for the maximum number of high school and college credits available in their chosen program.

These career and technical education programs prepare students for post-secondary education and workplace opportunities. They teach vital skills, such as cooperation, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, flexibility and dependability.

"The students had to talk to judges, staff and others at the show," noted Spackman. "It helped with social skills."

The students who worked on the tricked out sports car are also now eligible for scholarships.

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  • Very, very cool car...

    Hats off to Spackman, Worman & the Automotive career students!

    (Area 30 as a whole is pretty darn impressive nowadays.)

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 2:05 AM
  • This is how you educate our future leaders.."hands on" experience as they are being taught in the classroom! I can only imagine the feeling of pride these students have right now...absolutely AWESOME.

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 7:20 AM
  • WHAT AN AWESOME JOB YOU ALL DID...

    CONGRADULATIONS TO EVERYONE....

    -- Posted by takeastand on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 8:09 AM
  • Great Job Student in all your work with the excellent guidance from Rob and Jerry! We need to have more of this Hands On in our Schools! Can't send your repair work to China as of today, hope that never happens!

    -- Posted by macvrod on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 9:42 AM
  • The obvious question now is: Who gets to keep the car?

    -- Posted by marlagarrettyu on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 11:46 AM
  • Hopefully the car will be auctioned or appraised and sold. That money could then finance future projects or fund a scholarships. The kids did a great job and if the car runs as well as it looks this is at least 25000.00 car.

    -- Posted by Trying hard on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 1:44 PM
  • Love the colors and the car looks "hot" just sitting still. Looks like a winner all around!

    -- Posted by ladyinthewoods on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 2:33 PM
  • Great job students! I think the hands on learning is great! What a good start for your future. With the economy like it is I can't imagine having a much better start for the future. An education in something that society is going to need no matter what. I had a child at Area 30 a few years ago. I encourage anyone who is at all interested to check it out. It is pretty impressive.

    -- Posted by not a native on Fri, Feb 26, 2010, at 10:28 PM
  • What? Students asking for a teacher to open school on a snow day. Now, that is what I'm talking about! Helping a child find that one thing that insterests them and then teaching them how to turn it into a career. Completely AWESOME! Thank you Area 30 Career Center!

    -- Posted by Hairy Tiger on Mon, Mar 1, 2010, at 12:37 PM
  • Wow ! Very impressive !

    -- Posted by Scripted Spontaneity on Mon, Mar 1, 2010, at 3:02 PM
  • What a great opportunity this was for these students. At last, a challenge they enjoy!

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Tue, Mar 2, 2010, at 5:41 AM
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