Maryville’s Northwest Technical school recently received several donations from area citizens.
NTS Automotive Technology Instructor Steve Holtman and his students Jessica Hutson, Jefferson, Christopher Paris, Maryville, Shawn Mackey, Maryville, and PJ Porter, Maryville, look under the hood of a newly-donated pickup
Dakota Shield donated a Dodge Dakota pick up to Steve Holtman’s automotive technology class. The truck has engine troubles but is otherwise in good condition with low miles.
The class, consisting of approximately 32 students, will be installing a new engine. The students spend approximately an hour and a half in class each day. Holtman plans to sell the truck after it has been fixed to earn funds for future class supplies.
Throughout the two-year program, his students learn steering and suspension, engine mechanics, automatic transmission basics, heating and air, electrical, engine performance, brakes and manual transmissions.
When the students graduate, they earn a student Automotive Service Excellence certification for mechanics.
“It’s a learning experience. It will give these guys some experience so when they apply for jobs they can say, I have experience putting in an engine,” Holtman said.
Allen Wennihan, owner of True 2 U Autobody and Repair, Tarkio, donated a paint mixing bank to Ron Wiederholts’s collision and repair class.
Wennihan’s shop changed paint lines, making this mixing bank non-compatible. Since it is the same paint line the class uses, he donated it, doubling the school’s supplies. Wennihan currently employs two students who graduated from Wiederholt’s class.
The paint mixing bank mixes all the jars of paint toner before use. Students are then able to custom-mix gallons of paint using small amounts from different pigment jars. The bank included approximately $20,000 worth of paint materials.
“It is amazing. We don’t have to replace as much. He saved our school a ton of money on replacing toners. Thank you, it is greatly appreciated,” Wiederholt stated.
The class focuses on autobody repair, fixing rust, welding, framework, fixing dents, painting and full vehicle restorations.
“You do a variety of things every day. A lot of work is done and a lot of work goes out,” Maryville student Hannah Carroll stated.
Northwest alum Robert Wilson donated a 1958 Nash Metropolitan and a 1972 Honda 750 motorcycle to the collision and repair class in 2016.
“He’s been very generous to us,” Northwest Technical School Director Jeremy Ingraham stated.
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